Ramona Cafe

We were in the area on a weekend getaway celebrating my husbands birthday and we picked this pet friendly restaurant not only to try the 1/2 pound cinnamon roll but also because of the owner Dalia's story. Originally a busser, she worked her way up to general manager over the last 33 years and amazingly accepted became owner last year. Her pride, commitment, and dedication to making this little spot what it is is truly commendable. It made the experience even better when we found out that Dalia herself was the person taking our order and caring after our table. An owner, on the floor, taking orders and delivering food along side her staff. If that's not commitment I don't know what is. Food was great, service amazing, and the story pricless. If you're going thru Ramona, CA please support this business. 🙏 ❤️

I ordered on DoorDash and asked for a candle on my birthday because I was going to be alone AND THE LOVELY PEOPLE HERE SENT A A CANDLE W SWEET NOTES AND A CUPCAKE. I actually had a terrible birthday and it was so nice to see and really cheered me up. Food was delicious too so whoever was working on the 22nd , bless you.

WoW! We both ordered the chicken fried steak with eggs and hashbrowns. It's probably one of if not the best chicken fried steaks I've ever had. Hand made in a world of pre-ordered and the pepper gravy has just a hint of pepper but with an oh so ever tiny bit of sweetness to it. Asked for the salsa for the hash browns, which was also made in-house, and some of the best I've ever had! Great flyer with just enough kick! We've already decided on a return trip to Ramona just to try more items! The service was FAST, especially for everything being made in-house and as friendly as it could be. Five stars across the board from me and the wife!

Love this cafe! Right in the heart of downtown Ramona, on the way into Julian or Borrego Springs. The food is delicious, and the menu is expansive! One of those places that really has something for everyone. Great burgers, and amazing breakfast! Definitely recommend any of the omelettes, or the burgers, or ANYTHING!! My favorite has to be the Flamethrower burger, it has a nice kick with the jalapenos on it. One of those places that really has that hometown vibe. Definitely stop by!!

I got the French dip. It was great. Nice and hot. Of course, eating the other half later. Big portions. Husband got the bacon burger. Loved it with his onions rings. Will come back! Yummy 💜

My husband and I decided to take a little Drive to Ramona (from Lakeside) to try out a new breakfast place which I picked out on the drive up. I decided on the Ramona Cafe, and I'm glad I did! Our food was excellent, and our waitress, Kelsey, was outstanding! We didn't get the cinnamon roll that was featured on Triple D, but we WILL be back!

Absolutely the best cinnamon rolls I have ever had. And I have eaten a lot of cinnamon rolls in my lifetime. The taste is out of this world. They advertise it as a half pound, but it seems bigger. It’s a little pricey, but worth every penny. Staff is very friendly. I pass through Ramona maybe 4 to 5 times a year and always stop for the cinnamon roll. You will not be disappointed. Treat yourself. Life’s short.

Delicious breakfast and excellent service. We were in a bit of a hurry and we let them know and they got us in and out in 30 minutes! Definitely get a cinnamon roll to go. Definitely don't get one per person, they are gigantic! One feeds at least 4 people. Probably better there, served warm, if you have room in your stomach. I took half of my breakfast burrito to go it was so much food!

Amazing cafe where you can sit inside or outside. You pick a table and sit down - no hostess. I love that! We had Amber as our server, and she was super accommodating and friendly! I had the Baja Scramble- sooo good! It was a lot of food, and I couldn't finish it all. But I'm having the leftovers for breakfast now at my house and loving the scramble once again! I can't wait to be up in Ramona, so I can go there again!

Came here for a meeting and it was recommended by a local and she was spot on! The service was awesome and so family oriented, everyone was helping out. Our waitress gave us her top 5 and she was perfect with her recommendations! We ordered vegetarian omelettes but add bacon and it was awesome. The portions are huge and the omelette come with potatoes and onions and toast. Our coffee cups were never empty and the wait staff (including the owner) were always so helpful. They have an indoor and outdoor section so it's a great place to bring a pup too! Parking was super easy, there is plenty on the Main Street and a parking lot to the side of it. Overall totally recommend this place next time you're stopping by Ramona!!

Oh, honestly, update the Yelp "about us" section. The place had the same owner for MANY (30+ years?) BUT has had 2 new owners recently (in 2023 & 2024)...even tho' not much has changed Breakfasts are the best. Unfortunately, limited (aka boring) GF lunch & dinner options...Sorry!

If you're looking for a good home style cooked meal with massive portions then you've come to the right place. Home of the blue ribbon pecan cinnamon rolls and their famous chicken cordon bleu. Family owned and operated this is a great place to stop for any meal on your antique, farm stand, or winery tour of Ramona. Simply delicious comfort food with great service, you'll feel right at home in this cozy little restaurant right on Main Street.

Food was really good with a lot of flavor. I had one of the skillets with gravy for breakfast. Coffee was ok.

Bro best shakes in town! My daughter and I both got one tonight, so delicious. I got the chocolate malt and she got the vanilla shake! We sucked it down in less than 5 minutes.

Our visit to Ramona Café this past weekend left us very satisfied with our breakfast experience. On our way to Julian, our appetites led us to this charming establishment, and it turned out to be an excellent choice. Parking was a breeze, as we found a spot conveniently located at the end of the block near the market. Stepping inside, we were greeted by a cozy and well-organized interior that exuded a down-to-earth vibe, perfectly in tune with the local Ramona atmosphere. Arriving around 9:30 on a Sunday morning, we were pleasantly surprised to find seating options available immediately. The attentive waitress welcomed us warmly, allowing us to choose our preferred spot. Service was prompt and friendly throughout, with our orders taken quickly and accurately. For our breakfast selections, we opted for the Chorizo Scramble, the newly introduced Tex-Mex Skillet, accompanied by a side of Biscuits and Gravy. The Chorizo Scramble, while slightly heavier on the egg than chorizo, still had a good flavor with its slightly spicy and meaty profile. The accompanying beans and tortilla were satisfactory, though they didn't particularly stand out. The Tex-Mex Skillet impressed with its blend of flavors, though a tad more meat would have elevated the dish further. However, the star of the show was undoubtedly the Biscuits and Gravy. The gravy had a rich creaminess, with a meaty flavor that left a lasting impression. Though indulgent, it was a dish worth savoring, even if it meant saving half for later. Intriguingly, we discovered a fascinating tidbit during our visit--the restaurant now boasts a new owner. A waitress who dedicated 26 years to the establishment has taken the helm, a story that adds an extra layer of charm to the dining experience. Overall, our breakfast at Ramona Café was thoroughly enjoyable, leaving us eager to return and try more menu items.

This is a good breakfast joint if your on your way to the mountains the desert. Service was good, ambiance was nice and homey I like the DIY frames on the wall and the large cinnamon breakfast with sausage as my side choice was good would have been better if the thing was moist and freshly bake but it was little bit on a dry side. Overall I'll come back and try other stuff on their menu. I

Ramona cafe was a great place. The food was amazing, the employees are nice, and it is just an overall amazing restaurant.

It was my first time at Ramona Cafe and oh boy it was such a disappointment. We will not be back. We waited over 35 minutes for our breakfast, I actually got nauseous at my table waiting to eat, I had to ask for at least my toast to be brought out before I got sick at the table waiting, I believe the orange juice had messed me up on an empty stomach. We ordered my daughter food to go their front whiteboard stated an avocado toast/bacon special. We got a piece of avocado toast with one egg on top not at all what the special of the day listed. I didn't want to complain and just left at this point due to everyone else complaining and sighing of hunger at their table. Oh and we waited ONE HOUR for the avocado toast to go. So unfortunate. We won't be back here. I'm so sad my husband had to swipe his card here after a 2.5 hour day here of waiting. We only give 2 stars because our food was ok and the overloaded workers were great. The atmosphere is okay.

Decent homestyle diner. Been here a few times for breakfast and the staff is top tier and really take care of you. The thing is the food is just sort of regular and while everything tastes good it all is just sort of missing SOMETHING. There's a little bit extra that isn't there that makes a place/meal something you crave. It's like when you find a favorite restaurant and you go "I need biscuits and gravy SPECIFICALLY FROM THIS PLACE" - sort of lacking here. It'll scratch your biscuits and gravy itch but it's not going to be the one you are feral for when you wake up HANGRY.

A friend and I were in Ramona delivering pumpkins from our church in Carmel Valley to a farm there. We tried Ramona Cafe for lunch - it was so good! Our server (Amber) was so pleasant and engaging & the cheeseburger and fries filled a craving for a diner lunch - it was outstanding. We both also got a cinnamon roll to go. Looking forward to bringing more folks out to enjoy Ramona and the this cafe. Thanks for a great lunch.

Another amazing dinner tonight !' Everything was on point my fries and onion rings were done as requested ! The burgers were soooo good

fresh great food drinks right away and never close to empty. service is almost over attentive but awesome! expect the owner to stop by and make sure everything was ok. didnt really wait for anything, food was quick but not too quick. Best place in Ramona. dont forget to pickup fresh cinnamon rolls... yum!

Small and cute little family owned business it tastes amazing I do recommend. The service where kind and generous

Drove 1 hour 20 minutes to hit this Diners, Drive-Ins & Dives featured spot in the small town of Ramona. This little local spot really embraces their DDD heritage. Their specialty is the 1/2 pound cinnamon roll. Loaded with pecans and delicious frosting it was surprisingly light. We also had the Kitchen Sink skillet. Our server, Kelly, was a local who grew up in Ramona. Very sweet and friendly. Really enjoyed this spot.

The service is excellent here. They constantly check if you need more coffee. Someone's always checking on you. The young ladies that are servers are so cute and sweet and nice. The truly care about the customers. They even asked if I was feeling ok today. It's hard to find service like this.

New owners... but no worries, it's a waitress in the extended family that has worked there for 25 years. I remember her. Food is just as great as ever. Have been taking family here forever on the way out to visit Julian and the mountains. Used to visit here with sport bikes back in the day on the way to Palomar.

Saw this place on DDD and have stopped in a few times now. Food is top notch and the staff very friendly. If you are in Ramona, put this place on your list.

I visited the Ramona Cafe with a friend for breakfast as she lives nearby. I enjoy supporting local mom and pop establishments so I was excited to try this restaurant. The ambiance is very low key. Photos from the surrounding area and local law enforcement and fire protection agencies lined the walls. I could tell that no updates have been made recently but it added to the charm of the place. I consider myself a connoisseur of chicken fried steak so I knew I had to try it. I ordered it with over medium eggs and wheat toast. Unfortunately I was underwhelmed. The gravy was a little bland and the coating of the steak wasn't seasoned very well. I added lots of pepper to give it some more flavor. It was OK. One egg was cooked perfectly while the other was overcooked. The potatoes were also on the bland side. This is the first restaurant where I received only a single piece of toast. Disappointed as the strawberry jam was amazing. The folks next to our table ordered the cinnamon roll and it was huge. I almost ordered that too but decided against it. Dalia was our waitress. She was attentive and pleasant; she did her job but didn't go out of her way to make our visit more memorable. Will I come back. . .maybe. I usually like to give places another opportunity to change my first impression before I decide to not return. I wish I could give it two and a half stars but I will round up to be nice.

rm. Gut Friori's review from his show , played last Sunday and a friend of my wife, from Alabama called her to ask if the food was any good. The wife had heard, one of the waitresses had recently bought the restaurant and was going to restore the Ramona Cafe, to its former glory! Came here at 1500 on Thursday, to avoid the dinner rush. Zandra was there to take our drink order, before our seats got warm. I ordered the senior 3 piece Chicken filet dinner with mashed potatoes and gravy. It was excellent! The wife ordered the French toast, made from the world famous cinnamon bun, weighing in at one pound. Came with bacon. She struggled to back it through one half of it, and forward to finishing the second half this evening. We had heard bad things about the former owner, but it looks like Dolly, who has been a waitress there for 25 years. Is all ready making great strides on making it the famous restaurant it's been for years. If you haven't been here for a while or never been, there's a cinnamon roll with your name on it!

When we called on a Tuesday afternoon and asked if it would even be possible to bring 40 people in just three hours later they thought it was a prank call. I don't blame them! Once we figured out it wasn't they were ready for the task! They went above and beyond bringing in extra staff and cooks! They were efficient and friendly! When the line for the bathroom went a little too long they didn't think twice to let us use their private one. The food was delicious with plenty of options for our group to choose from within their $15 each budget. The vibe was cute and friendly, very welcoming! We were thrilled to see it had been on the drive ins show! All in all we HIGHLY recommend Ramona's cafe! Thank you for the warm welcome and amazing everything!

This cafe is amazing. Their food was so good and fresh. I loved everything that I tried at this place specially their spicy potatoes and sourdough bread. Their strawberry jam was handmade. Service and ambience both are great.

The service was good & the staff was friendly. My bf and I were told about these 1/2 lb. Cinnamon rolls so we went to check them out. We split one and split the senior ham & cheese omelet - plenty of food and the omelet plate was a great price $10 for an omelet potatoes and toast. But, the cinnamon roll was a disappointment. It was big, but the outer rings were dry and not flavorful. It was only the center that had the cinnamon sugar and nuts. The cinnamon seemed to be missing on the rest of the roll. The 2 stars are based on that alone. If we were ever back in the area, we would probably go for the senior breakfast again, but would definitely skip the cinnamon roll.

The service was fabulous. The food was horrible. We will not be eating there again. People that are familiar with the cafe advised me afterwards to try breakfast instead.

Still the best in the West! Great place to relax and enjoy some home cooked food. Big portions with a good price. Jennie is an awesome waitress and all their staff is very kind. Thank you all for always making our experience nice. A+A+A+

Very cool joint. Location right on the main street. Lots of neat pictures and posters on the walls. I had a delicious breakfast for lunch. Iced tea was very good. I got one of the cinnamon rolls to go. Good service during my whole visit. Friendly patrons. Visit if you're in the area.

Just ordered through door dash(not recommended) the bag had no utensils, no condiments, no butter, no jam. I ordered the pecan roll, no frosting, or butter provided. Food was decent.

We are on vacation in So Cal, staying in between San Diego zoo and San Diego safari park. I decided for my family to try this Cafe. Everything was excellent! The service from Dahlia was amazing. The food was so tasty. And the cinnamon roll was on point! I strongly recommend if you are in the area to try it out!!!

After three calls to speak with the manager and being told "They will call you tomorrow " still no call or attempt to return call. It's obvious at this point they just don't care if there's a problem with the food...and this is from a local. I would definitely head across the street to Marinade on Main for a great breakfast!

Great place to stop for lunch. My buddies and I rode our bikes through Ramona on our way through the back hills. This place has great food, great coffee, and fantastic service. They have a serious breakfast and lunch menu, along with all kinds of side dishes and deserts. I ordered the patty melt and it came out golden brown, just like I wanted. The fries were cooked to perfection, and there were plenty of them. I ate every fry on my plate, lol... Amber was our waitress and was cute as a button and attentive. Definitely a go to spot as you pass through Ramona. Ask for Amber... You won't be disappointed.

Attentive and friendly service. Ordered California Benedict, California club sandwich, and fish & chips. Best was the fish and chips with a tasty tartar sauce and coleslaw. The bene was okay - ham was a bit chewy. Club sandwich was alright. The best part of lunch was the pecan cinnamon roll. Moist, buttery, and warm too! Got to get that when you visit.

While visiting my family in Ramona we went to the Ramona Cafe for breakfast. Plenty of space and is good for large groups. We ordered the California Bennie, two orders of Chicken Fried Steak. One CFS was split, they brought the split order on two plates, super convenient. We also ordered the 2-2-2 for the kids. The CFS gravy was pretty amazing. If a restaurant can't make gravy I can't return. This is not the case. We're definitely returning. We also ordered a cinnamon roll, a bit dry for my liking, but the flavor was there. I wouldn't order it again though.

Friendly service. Dog-friendly on the patio. Tasty diner food. They're famous for their giant cinnamon roll. It's big enough for four people.

Came on a Sunday morning around 9am, staff was courteous and friendly. Cafe was 3/4 full. Since it was nice outside, I decided to sit on patio. There were a few tables with families with dogs, so it is pet friendly. Had the hero omelet with English muffin and home fries. Homemade strawberry jam. Food was delicious

Just had an amazing experience at Ramona Cafe! The food was delicious, and the service was top-notch, especially from an exceptional waitress. I was particularly impressed with Dalia, our waitress. She was friendly, attentive, and made sure to check in on us frequently to ensure we were enjoying our meal. I'm not sure why others have left negative reviews about the service, as I found it to be excellent. Definitely recommend Ramona Cafe and Dalia as a fantastic waitress!"

Service was great but food was subpar at best no one enjoyed the meal all 8 of us wished we had went somewhere else Diners Drive ins and Dives sure got this one wrong

Got the chicken fried steak and for $17 plus tax, don't think it was worth it. When I received my meal, it was cold. The only thing that was warm was the sausage gravy they put on top of the chicken. There was more breading than chicken and to be honest the meat looked a bit like mystery meat. The potatoes lacked flavor. Eggs were a bit over coocked. Still ate it because didnt have time to get something else for lunch. The only reason I gave this 2 stars was because of the service. The waitress was constantly checking up with me and her other customers. Very kind, attentive, and had a great attitude.

As you can tell from my name I was super excited to visit the Ramona Cafe! I actually had never visited the City of Ramona before but I had driven through it only one time back in college. My guy and I were looking for something to do so we thought we'd make a trip out of it and go to Ramona and Julian for the day. I was searching for places to go on Yelp and stumbled across this restaurant. I also saw online that they were featured in a 2007 episode of the Food Network's "Diners, Drive-Ins and Dives" with Guy Fieri! I even watched the quick video clip online that morning before coming here. We split a chicken fried steak combo breakfast which was mentioned in the episode. It was actually my first time ever trying chicken fried steak and it did not disappoint! It was nicely flavored and delicious! It's served with eggs, potatoes and toast. The waitress who was serving our table was nice and cheerful too! Great establishment! If this place were closer to me I'd love to go back and try out the other items on their menu! The next thing I'd want to try is their Blue Ribbon Cinnamon Pecan Rolls that was also on the show!

I ordered a waffle and the women who served us had red hair. And there was a nice long red hair in my whip cream on my waffle. Needles to say I did not eat my food. The sever didn't fix it. Or seem to care. Won't ever go back to be honest

Two words. CINNAMON ROLLS. We come here just for them. Get some coffee and a roll and walk Main Street. Such a good find in Ramona

Party of five and we were seated promptly on Saturday morning. Our server was friendly and efficient and just pleasant enough to not be annoying. Two in our party had the fish & chips, one had the patty melt - not a single complaint to be heard. My husband had chicken fried steak and eggs with potatoes and a biscuit with gravy. He cleaned most of his plate but wasn't real keen on the gravy but that's just personal preference - there was nothing WRONG with it, just not made/seasoned the way he likes it. I had the corned beef hash with eggs over easy, potatoes and an English muffin. The has was cooked perfectly and so delicious. Unfortunately my eggs were over hard but I was hungry and ate it without notifying my server. I felt (as did my husband) that the potatoes were extremely underseasoned and neither of us ate them. The menu has so many options and the place is obviously popular. We enjoyed our breakfast/lunch with family at Ramona Cafe.

Great breakfast menu. Outdoor dining. Friendly staff and good service. Senior menu items.

The food was excellent! My grandson had the crispy chicken wrap and absolutely LOVED it! I had the liver and onions dinner with bacon. Fantastic! Homemade mashed potatoes with gravy. Yummy! We were too full to order the 1/2 lb. Cinnamon roll they're famous for on Diners, Drive-in and Dives. We'll just have to come back.

I like coming here for breakfast but geees we always get the same sassy annoyed entitled waitress. Which makes it hard to want to come back . We always get seated quickly and food always tastes good and comes out within 15-20 mins but lord have mercy this waitress is not suited for great attitude service . When a customer asks a question you don't say things with an attitude it's a question . The waitress who is Hispanic with glasses and is on her phone instead of coming back to ask if your table could use refills .

Love this place. Have been going to breakfast here for over 10 years. Great service and great food. My only complaint is that they don't have hash browns, only breakfast potatoes which are good, but I prefer hash browns.

As a fellow business owner and was an employee for many years before i was able to become the owner. The same has happened here. I haven't been here in a while but was happily surprised the food has improved. Quite happy with their service and as always that has never been an issue. Will be back next week and congratulations to you.

I have to admit that there is cinnamon roll press out of the oven is something that makes you leave out of diabetes, or weekend well worth it the frosting has a buttery creamy flavor that is so smooth it makes me want to eat another one... Although I'm not gonna lie I cheated and waited to get them the day they came out of the oven. My steak quesadilla with jalapeños cottage cheese and fresh made guacamole was every bit of a treat as that special birthday cake you get the one that you get every 10 years that you never forget but for some reason can't ever order again because nobody remembers the recipe... This will be the quesadilla version of that it was delicious. The delivery time was incredible because I'm staying in a hotel up the street so given that this hotel couldn't be more than 2 miles while I was very fortunate that anytime it said delivery would take up to 20 minutes if they really meant was the entire process only takes 20 minutes LOL so your food's going to get here very fast and very fresh.

Great food. Cute small town cafe. Wish I could come here every weekend and be part of the locals that come here. Good service. Would definitely come back again if I'm in the area. Would definitely recommend here!