The Potholder Cafe Belmont

My husband completed the Mac Daddy challenge haha that was fun. My chocolate chip pancakes were good, but nothing to write home about. I also thought my eggs were a bit on the slimy/wet side? So unfortunately, I did not love them! Not sure if it was a one time thing or if that’s how their eggs are usually made? Coffee was okay, but it was cool to support a small business in the area!

The Pot Holder Cafe Belmont is always the best! I needed one of the plates for my centerpiece at home! I told them I would send a picture. ❤️

WORST. BREAKFAST. EVER. I don’t even write reviews but felt compelled to share what I just experienced. Long story short. The waitress never entered our order and then after we said something they just rushed out some of the worst food I’ve ever had. I don’t mind waiting, but don’t just send some slop out from the kitchen on the plate. The omelette was barely edible, the toast wasn’t what I ordered. The chocolate chip pancakes my girlfriend ordered were horrible, the eggs were wrong, and the bacon was terrible. I’m not exaggerating when I say this was the worst breakfast food I’ve ever had. We were polite but voiced our displeasure and they did nothing to try to remedy the situation. She also charged us for 2 coffees each. What kind of diner charges for a refill on coffee? I had been here a few times before and it was OKAY, but I won’t be returning

The food and customer service was excellent. I really enjoyed the pictures on the walls from all over the world. Highly recommend!

This place exceeded my expectations and more importantly put a smile on both of our faces. Located just down the street in a corner building, the sign is easily readable, had a 50s vintage feel and says "cafe". We decided to stop here for breakfast and the service was prompt, friendly, and professional. The waitresses consistently checked in on us without being interruptive and always wearing a huge smile! 10/10 A+ would definitely come back again.

I have found my new favorite breakfast spot in Long Beach! The portion sizes are huge and all of the ingredients are super fresh and full of flavor. The carne asada is cooked to perfection, very friendly and accommodating staff. I highly recommend checking this place out well deserved 11/10 rating!

I bought my home in the Belmont Heights area of Long Beach in 2000 and discovered the POTHOLDER almost immediately. My career has had me bouncing around the country for the last 17 years but I'm back in the neighborhood. Couldn't wait to introduce my wife to this fabulous, local breakfast & lunch dive just 2 blocks from home. I was pleasantly surprised at the great upgrades the new owner, Michael has done to the place. It still has a great, funky feel, just upgraded funky. Before Covid, Saturday or Sunday meant 60 - 90 minute waits to get a seat. That should (and does) speak volumes for the food. Always tasty, great portions and great service to match. If you've never been, you owe it to yourself to give it a shot. And after you've been there, you too will be telling others to EAT AT THE POTHOLDER. (You'll understand after you've visited.) :-)

Gave the 18” pancake a shot but only got halfway through it😂. The chilaquiles were by far my favorite although everything we had was super good. The potatoes, the sausage, and the COFFEE…the coffee is amazing. The service was just as good as the food 👌🏽 Can’t wait to be back!

I hadn't been to this Potholder location in over 10 years, so I decided to take my partner since he had never been. I love the vibes here! He ordered the breakfast enchiladas, but the pork was cold. We also got a create-your-own omelette, which was good, but the real star of the meal was the French toast absolutely delicious! Our total came out to $60 and some change, which was a great price for everything we ordered. The highlight of our visit was definitely our waitress she was not only beautiful but also had outstanding customer service. I'd come back just to have her serve us again! Looking forward to trying something new next time.

I live near the Potholder and go occasionally for breakfast during the week. The food is delicious and they offer a lot of variety. The ambience is cozy and very home-town feeling. However I went today with 4 friends on a Sunday for the first time. Watch out! We were seated right away, but then waited an hour for our food. What's that all about? Stick to parties of 2 if you want a more pleasant time.

I Loooove this place! So many breakfast options, American staples, a full list of vegetarian and vegan options, a fun and colorful ambience, and as if that was not enough: the service rocks! Perfect for couples, and families. I believe it is also pet friendly as I have seen people sitting outside with their furry friends. PSA for vegans: do not miss their tofu scramble with house hash brown potatoes!

This review is based only on hostess/client service. We stopped in today around 11:20am and waited outside for the hostess. There was a small crowd and we asked someone if we are supposed to write our names down and they said no, the host will come back. So we waited patiently. When she came out, before we even said a word, she immediately displayed her palms to us and said "everyone just give me a second" and went to seat a few guests. When she returned, she asked if I wrote my name, I said not yet. And she spat "just so you know, that pen doesn't bite." It was so rude and stunning that it took a minute to register. She then asked my name, I told her, and she asked me to spell it. It's really a common name so I am not sure what confused her. Then she began her onslaught of apologies. To her credit, she looked tired and said as much. But wow - I didn't deserve that. f I had less restraint of tongue, I might have made her day a lot worse. Instead, we decided to leave without eating. Sadly, I can't comment on the food. I'm sure it's good. It's been a while since we dined here but it's been a nice brunch experience in the past.

Ray and I often share an omelette as they are usually too big for just one. True here. I failed to get pix, darn it. But we finally made it here. Haven't been since my first ex and I lived here. Loved it then. Love it now. Of note: you can sit outside, around the corner from the front. Server was attentive and we were there without a line. The location is on Broadway and due to this usually busy. We arrived about 11 ish on a Thursday. Good time to come.

Second time here and yes there will be a third My dagter loved it and she's very picky

Met up with some family for brunch and made the mistake of order The Couch. I hadn't ordered this dish in about 10 years. I quickly realized why that was. Within about an hour of leaving brunch, I was completely useless and pretty much Lethargic for the remainder of the afternoon. It was definitely a really good dish and their Super Spuds are 2nd to None, no ketchup needed for flavor, imo. I will most likely refrain from ordering Yhe Couch, at least for another 10 years, and stick to their other dishes.

This was an old favorite of mine when I used to live in LB years ago and decided to take my family there for breakfast on a recent visit. Everything is what I remembered..large selection to choose from, good value (size of meal to price), warm neighborhood feel, and lots of seating. Our service was good and the family loved both omelettes that we shared.(baked potato and a sausage spinach). I am already looking forward to the next trip back.....lots of competition for your $ in LB, but this one still is one of the best for a hearty, delicious breakfast.

On our visit we placed 4 orders. One Was a cream cheese stuffed French toast plate. In short, the cream cheese was spoiled,soured,rancid, pungent in tasted. The waitress took the plate and asked another to try it *because we claimed* it didn't taste good. Consequently 2 of us were turned off by the experice.. our stomachs flipped....I requested a refund for 2 of the orders untouched. There was no apology. I question the sanitation of this place and quality of food. Had we been treated with courtesy and respect I wouldnt have submitted this review. Your staff shouldnt treat guests rudely for the lack of attention to food quality. Food freshness should be inspected regularly and before serving food. Restaurants have a duty to ensure food safety there are liabilities and for breaching that duty

Never ever coming to this restaurant again. Food is mediocre and service was ass. My friend got home and ended up vomiting all his chilaquiles back up

On December 29, the year of our lord 2024. I stepped into this establishment famished and not with the highest spirits. The decor homey and inviting, the seats comfortable and adequate. The silverware and menu reminding me to live a little and enjoy the smaller things in life. As I perused the menu, one thing caught my attention. Behold, the chicken and waffles. "Buttermilk chicken tenders, atop a Bacon Waffle with green onions" for a mear price of 17.95 U.S dollars. What. The ever living hell. Is a bacon waffle. I pondered, is a waffle with bacon inside? Or perhaps is it a waffle made entirely out of bacon. The question had to be answered. Upon my waitresses arrival. A goddess with a nose piercing. She addressed me as love bug, a name that made me feel like I was more than a customer. I was family. The order of chicken and waffles was requested with no green onions. There seemed to be no point for their inclusion to the supplement. The lemonade that was ordered alongside was sweet and left a nostalgic feeling of my childhood on summer days. When the holy grail arrived I was taken aback by its sheer beauty. The chicken tenders, crisp and golden brown, shining like the Sistine chapel. Its smell was intoxicating. The waffle, perfectly fluffy and its own shade of perfect golden brown. A beautiful dollop of soft creamy butter sat ever so sweetly in an oasis of chicken, melting ever so elegantly, leaving a trail of gleaming succulent cream. Cutting into this masterpiece was comparable to the first sight of dragons in the HBO original series, "Game Of Thrones." The chicken was crisp and tender. As I took my first taste of this. The only word I can use to describe it is enchanting. As I rose from my seat in irreplaceable ecstasy, I heard a choir of baby angels singing in my ear. This must be what heaven feels like. I saw the face of god before me as I licked my lips searching for crumbs to fulfill my desire for more. It was apparent to me. The potholder is not a restaurant. It is a sanctuary, for those to get lost in the sauce of golden syrup, buttermilk and bread crumbs. Second photo features My actual order. My brother ordered the chicken and waffles. I got the Beth's luau omelette which I did not have the energy to finish as my cousin offered me a serving of his own chicken and waffles. Potholder, I love you. En fin

This place was recommended to me a while ago. I was in the area and decided to stop in for a to go order. Street parking only. There are apartment buildings in the area so keep that in mind when searching for a spot. I was fortunate to get parking half a block away. Inside you have several seating options in several rooms, patio dining and counter seating as well. The service was excellent. While waiting I was offered something to drink and multiple staff members checked in with me to make sure I was being taken care of. I ordered chocolate chip pancakes for my daughter, which she loved. I opted for the California Omelet which came with potatoes and toast. Serving sizes were large and the food tasted really good. I will defiantly go back to dine in.

Stopped here on a whim since they had so many different options! We didn't know what to choose but needed up going with the Chunky Cluck (omelette) and Nacker Snacker (Omlette). We both really enjoyed our food, they had lots of toppings and was super filling. Our favorite thing was probably the potatoes! We've never had hash browns like that before! They had skins on and green onions and the portion was huge. I subbed my toast for French toast and it was yummy but definitely a lot of food. The service was quick both the hostess that sat us and the waitress were super attentive. They also were super friendly even though we were taking forever to decide on the food. The restaurant was super casual all sorts of people were here from couples to families. The restaurant was decorated like a fever dream but not in a bad way. The room we sat in had a huge mural on the ceiling and the walls were covered with pictures of people around the world holding signs saying "eat at the potholder." Would definitely come again!

Service was unfortunately not good. Our server was not happy, friendly, or willing to expand her knowledge of menu items. Her mood was somber, irritated, and unsettling. Food was delivered pretty quickly, but my omelet was under cooked so I sent it back. The new omelet came back pretty quickly and was cooked throughout this time. But I ordered the spicy ground beef omelet and it was not spicy at all. Very bland and the egg tasted like old grill grease. I was disappointed about my meal but my other family members said their dishes were ok. Ambiance has lots of photos on the walls promoting eating here which is cool wish I knew more about the back story. Seems like a popular local spot so I might have just had a bad experience.

Get the big 18" pancake! And if you cannot finish it, most of you won't, please share it with the people around you and just watch and enjoy the smiles! GO MACDADDY! If you're in Long Beach, California, you have to stop by here and eat and visit & highly recommend!

Eat At The Potholder! This is a Long Beach institution and its food is always on point!

The food is great. Service is good. Mimosas need work. Good times good morning. Delicious burger

Litty, great food, would mos def recommendd Bring ya momma, ya sister & grandma. Service is always a pleasure

Food , hash browns, dishes , customers all of it sucks why would you buy a place after the last owner try to sell Popeyes Chicken ! Lmaoo now this my first time here I see why it's my last the customer service the lady given not it I'll passsssssssas!! Leave to the pantie girls in the neighborhood.

This place is a must. Food is so good... I love the healthy side menu. Service is great, hostesses are very kind. The ambiance couldn't be more tranquil, feels like home.

Great service amazing food and was welcome like home. Def will come back. The ambiance was just perfect.

This location is on point! From the time you walk in to the presentation of the check the customer service was Keen. The ambiance was welcoming and very friendly. Food was exceptionally good. Fresh from the grill. We will definitely be back

Nice little breakfast diner. You can sit at the counter, or booth, or outside. I got the combo called Tim's Dug Out. It comes with the Super Spuds which are loaded hash browns. They load it all on top but next time I'll see if they can mix it all in. The hash browns come with mushrooms, cheese, avocado, and sour cream. They were great. Tim's also comes with a cute little one egg omelette with Avocado, Bacon, and Cheese. It was a wonderful French style folded omelette. They top it with tender cubes of Mexican seasoned steak. Finally Tim's comes with two triangles of stuffed cream cheese French Toast which was also really good.

good , fresh and reasonably priced . good local spot to get food . they have off street parking as well . i ordered bacon and breakfast potatoes . bacon was crispy just the way i love it . i recommend this spot !

Food was outstanding and plentiful, service was quick and efficient, glad I came will be back for sure

Awesome food, big portions, and great customer service! Gloria was very helpful and kind! We loved the fun decor and style ranging from Elvis to surfboards and even the Flintstones. Loved it!

The Potholder was once our go-to greasy spoon in the neighborhood. Its charming ambiance, friendly staff, and above-average food made it the perfect breakfast spot. My fiancé and I came here regularly until early 2020, when we noticed a decline in the food quality. We decided to give them another try this week (early 2022), and were further disappointed. The recently renovated interior looks terrible. It is somehow sterile and grungy at the same time, with bright blue paint and rainbow surfboard printed tabletops. The staff seemed miserable, and presented us with toast that was burned to a crisp. My fiancés omelette was thin and oily, and the hash browns served alongside were cold. I got one of my favorites, The Flaky French Toast (Strawberry Filled), which fortunately was as good as it was in the before days. If you come here, order this-it's unique, and a real treat. Regardless, I am sad to say we will not return to The Potholder.

I want to gate-keep... but this was Best diner in Long Beach hands down you have to go to. +You HAVE TO get their breakfast potatoes. Huge portions, classic breakfast. Our waitress and hostess were so nice-- definite must-go.

This place hits the spot! We got seated immediately even when we went on a Sunday morning and it's a 3-day weekend! It could have been because we came early. The Mia's French toast with peanut butter filling was intriguing to me, so I had to try it. Oh, boy! Loved it! Loved it! Loved it! It has the right amount of filling and the peanut butter was just done right! No need to add the syrup. My husband had the JR's flagship- corned beef hash. The portion was big, had the right crisp, and overall yummy flavor. Overall, we came out of there fully satisfied! The service was great, the vibe was enjoyable and the food was great!

Best breakfasts! Been coming here since 1980's and always a fun and memorable experience. This was the first place I experienced ABC (Avocado Bacon Cheese) omelette as Potholder was amongst the first restaurants to start creative omelettes (when others just offered cheese omelettes only). Today I had Tim's Dugout with ABC omelette, the best super spuds, and stuffed French toast. So delicious! We all had the same and kept commenting how yummy the food was! The staff was welcoming, friendly and attentive too. Always a fun and enjoyable breakfast experience at the original Potholder Cafe!

After coming here with family and out of town friends over 32 yrs...about the time they acquired the Belmont corner additional spaces. Never again. We haven't been back for 4 yrs. After trying the #DTLB location....which was an overpriced, cold food, exhausting wait rip off. But since family is hanging on the pic halls of Potholder fame....hubby asked "let's try that place on Broadway we use to go to, years ago." Fine. 2 breakfasts...an $11 Frankie's and a $13 chiliquilles and 2 noon "Sunday" drinks. $84 when the bill comes !!! $84 Now we tip during covid but for the love of god, dont covid hazard up charge us for poor quality food. I ordered eggs OM, over medium...runniest pieces of slime and thats after stating I wanted turkey sausage not bacon as I had been served. They drug out the turkey bacon charge, 2 slices. Charged $3 x2, Wait what?!? We tried. We will never be fraudulently charged for upcharges or surcharges based on ignorance or #covid ever again. Then waited 30 minutes for a random manager to dash over...who supported all the random upcharges. Zero communications for enduring the worst experience and zero recommendations for zero service and bad breakfast food. Not worthy of anyones time.

This place has been a Long Beach icon for years. I took my teenage son there for him to experience. We were both very underwhelmed. Neither of us liked our breakfast. (He got loco moco, I got chicken fried steak) First cup of coffee was only warm. Staff was great though. Not what I remember from the past. Unfortunately, I wouldn't recommend.

Solid 4 stars - ATMOSPHERE It's a quaint little joint with indoor and outdoor seating. It's got a beachy vibe. Very cool and eclectic. There's lots of seating inside and they have a few tables outside. - CUSTOMER SERVICE The host was cool. He got us a table relatively quickly. We beat the rush, so we were stoked about that. Our server was awesome. But, they were super busy and our food took forever to come out. That's basically what I docked 'em one star for. We were waiting for 45 min or so for our food. - FOOD I ordered the BREAKFAST BURRITO with no beans and I added chicken. It comes with a side of homestyle potatoes. The burrito was yummy. The salsa's just a little too runny for me, but it was good. The potatoes were just ok. I added some salt & pepper just to gussy it up a bit. - OVERALL I'd be back again to try some other things on their very extensive menu!

One of my favorite brunch spots in Long Beach! Never disappoints. Great food, drinks, and service!

Though it was early on the weekend, we had quite an excellent meal at this small, clean and delightful cafe. Breakfast was as delicious as it could be with elegant and timely service. The ambiance is cafe chic and we were so happy to choose this fabulous place for our meal. Keep up the good work.

Went to breakfast here a couple of times in the past couple of weeks and the food is very good. Lots of gluten-free options which I appreciate being a celiac. The weight staff is always very attentive and very welcoming. I will go back.

It's been awhile since I've eaten here, but I did remember enjoying it last time I was here. Decided to check it out again and bring my daughter. We were definitely not disappointed. There are so many different options on the menu, so you are bound to find something you like. I ordered The Couch (2 eggs, 2 bacon & 2 sausage, super spuds & pancakes). Everything was cooked perfect and delicious. My daughter ordered the chicken fried steak with a biscuit. She raved at the homemade taste of the biscuit. They clearly use high quality ingredients in all of their food. The servers were all so nice & attentive, and the restaurant was very quaint with a diner appeal. We look forward to returning so we can try some of the other yummy breakfast items.

Great breakfast place. Awesome service. Large selection and variety of tasty food. You have a ton of options for breakfast, lunch and dinner type meals. Portions are filling. This was the perfect stop before boarding our cruise.

We live right down the block And we have been here dozens of times. Today was dismal. We ordered our food and both my wife and I wanted well done hash browns. What came was a plate heaping with underdone hash browns and the waitress explained that it would take too long to make well done. But they would make us some well done and bring them. I wanted my plate all at once and the heaping underdone hash browns was very unappetizing. I sent my plate back and they behind the toast and came back in a about minutes with a better done plate with hash browns, but I had some cold toast to eat it with. My wife just ate her original plate but was very dissatisfied. We probably won't go here again. This was very poor execution by the staff. Could have been handled right from the get go. It was a simple request. It's a shame.

This is my favorite of all the Potholder Cafe locations. It's a little hidden gem located on Broadway, in the heart of Belmont Heights. I usually prefer to sit on the patio outside, but the inside is also cute and full of character/history. The food is great and the service is too. I recommend the potatoes and you can't go wrong with their pancakes. Highly recommended!

Dense Mac Daddy, 18 inches of plain pancake. Can you finish it. Those who can finish get a Tshirt...

Just moved to the city and heard this was a Long Beach staple so we had to see what all the hype was about. Came In with a party of 4. From the moment we walked in we were greeted by the hostess with such enthusiastic energy which we loved! Their menu is pretty big so it took us a while to look through it all. Went with the Chicken Fried Steak which did not disappoint! Our server Arizu was amazing and very attentive and we will definitely be coming back for the food and great service.! I'm shocked this place doesn't have 5 stars.

Your standard cute little local diner. Wanted to post this pic of their cinnamon roll, though. What the heck. It's all flattened. I guess the more times you swing, the more you miss. Oh well.

Best breakfast I've had in a while! Also great service on a Monday morning; our waitress was so sweet and always made sure our coffee cups were full. We will definitely be back!

Went again to this location for breakfast, I was quite disappointed. Decaf coffee was tepid even when I asked for a second cup that was lukewarm also. I had a egg,tomato, and mushroom scramble and it was dry. Rye toast was good.

French toast is always a HIT!! Definitely a must try with scrambled eggs and turkey sausage

This place is a little gem. It's in a prime location with quirky decor and top tier service for a large group. I had my first go at machaca and I couldn't stop eating it. We were visiting the area from NY so I'm just sad they aren't closer to home.

What an experience. Our sever was friendly and attentive, which was great. However, after the hostess greeted us, she told us a long story about her aunt that resulted in giving my friend a backhanded compliment. I ordered the Grand Prix and the veggies were raw. Maybe I'm used to having cooked/sautéed veggies in an omelette. Cinnamon roll was gummy and plain. Tasted like it came from a can. Friend's entree was supposed to come with meat; it didn't. We were starving so it didn't matter at that point. Said hostess came to refill coffees and we asked for the check. She said it wasn't her job to do that.

This review makes me sad because my family and I have so many memories from this Potholder, and I can't see myself ever going back. This used to be the best neighborhood breakfast place in the area, which was saying something considering how many breakfast places are within a 1-mile radius. Unfortunately, I can't say that about Potholder anymore. Pre-pandemic, you could walk in even on the busiest days and feel warmly greeted by friends. Moe, Dana, and Beth were fixtures here, and more like extended family as they watched my son grow up. We went to their birthday parties and they came to ours, even though we've never set foot in each other's homes. The restaurant was our mutual home, but it doesn't feel like home anymore. Sure, it was gritty, and perhaps the pure definition of a "greasy spoon" before, but it felt good. The faded pictures on the wall of people posting their "Eat at Potholder" signs from all corners of the planet is a testament to the importance of this place in the neighborhood. Since the pandemic, the place has seen an interior overhaul. Perhaps it was necessary, but when you walk in now, it feels cold and surprisingly empty even if people are sitting at the tables. Those photos on the wall now feel like an epitaph of a time that will never return, and to the faces we will never see again. On our visit today, the staff was under-enthused about us showing up 45 minutes before closing (what breakfast/lunch place shuts down at 1 pm on a Friday?) only to stand waiting for any sign of acknowledgment. The young server, in what I can assume was her very first server position ever, made an attempt to find us a table, but somehow got distracted by something shiny and she forgot about us. At least an attempt was made because the other server on duty didn't even acknowledge our existence. When the first girl finally remembered us, she looked around aimlessly trying to figure out which table to put us at, finally deciding on the one table that still needed to be bussed from the previous guests. That added another 5 minutes to our wait (yes it took that long). Finally being seated, she disappeared again for another 10 minutes, moving in all directions with no sense of organization and workflow. 5 of those minutes were inputting an order from the table of 4 adjacent to us. They were there long before we walked in, so I can only imagine how long they had to wait. My wife had to be home before 1 pm for a work-related call and the delays almost forced us to get up and leave in order to get her some food before the call. Another couple walked in the door waiting to be seated, and at the same time, the server finally made it back to our table, passing them again without any acknowledgment. We made quick work of ordering because time was short, and off she went, still not looking at the couple at the door. Server #2 still couldn't be bothered. Another 5 minutes passed as our server took time to input our order. I thought, "Were we going to have any time at all to eat at this point? Maybe we should get it to go." The exasperated couple at the door finally left, still with no acknowledgment from the two servers. I looked up at the kitchen window filled with plates waiting to be sent out to tables, but instead sitting too long under the heat lamps. Thank goodness for the kitchen staff who were the only ones doing timely work. Our food came quickly, but we still had a limited amount of time to eat. I told the server that we needed to leave pretty quickly and asked for the check early. The only thing she did with expediency was run our debit card. I had breakfast burritos, my wife had a cheese omelet, both were good, but we both ignored the undercooked and soggy side of potatoes. I won't pretend that The Potholder had perfect food all those years. There were times when things were spotty at best, but we accepted that in exchange for that sense of place. It wasn't just the food; it was the family, all of which are gone now... and so are we. Thanks for the memories, ladies. === === Oh, and to the current owners, a tip: Perhaps keep your snarky replies to yourself. No sense in exposing your soft, overly-sensitive underbelly. If anything was a final nail in the coffin for us, it was that. Also, Fridays used to be banging at PH. Perhaps some self-reflection on why that isn't the case anymore.