Galley Cafe

Couldn't count how often we've eaten at Galley Cafe. It is a bit comical to watch as newbies don't realize the bench is the waiting room - if you're going for the first time and see folks on the bench, find the end of the line and your patience will be rewarded. Food and service are great. The same few servers having been working here forever! Fewer than 10 tables and only one that can hold parties larger than 4. About 10 counter seats as well.I enjoy the chili cheese omelet with well done hashbrowns. My husband usually builds his own omelet. The breakfast burrito is also good. Great little gem in Newport.

Breakfast by the Bay. The meat lovers omelette with loaded jalapeños was a plateful. Quick service by a very friendly and efficient staff. You will never have to ask for a coffee refill. Awesome diner feel & experience. The staff knew what all the locals were having before they even sat down. My new favorite breakfast spot in Newport Beach.

Cute, cozy neighborhood, family owned breakfast and brunch spot in the Balboa Harbor area since 1957. Came in on a Friday morning about 9 and seated immediately at one of the 3 booths along the window. From here we could see across to the docked boats. Lots of locals streaming in and out with cheerful greetings and salutations of "Happy New Year!" from the friendly staff. Hubs ordered the 2 eggs hamburger patty breakfast with hash browns and toast. I chose the Combo with 1 egg, 1 pancake and 1 protein (ham steak). Everything came hot and steamy. The pancake is a true griddle cake made from scratch. It was light and fluffy, but not as much flavor as I prefer and I could definitely taste the griddle. I heard a repeat customer tell his family to "definitely get the pancakes, they're amazing!", but I think pancakes are a very subjective food. I'm sure these would satisfy many people, but I delight in a dense, thick, sweet pancake, so I would pass on these next time. The slice of ham was good and the egg was also. Hubs enjoyed his hamburger patty and eggs and his coffee was steaming hot. They are also known for their scratch chili and I heard a few people ordering that for breakfast. It must be good! lolI counted about 6 small booths and 1 large corner booth that sat a family of 6 snuggly. There was also a long counter that seated 10 and I noticed a couple of times people "scooched" over to make room for others which was very kind. Immediate parking in front of Galley is 4 spots, but I'm sure there are more spots in the area. Bathrooms are located around the back of the kitchen by going outside. If we are in the area again and wanting a simple breakfast served by cheerful staff, we will think of Galley Cafe fondly. Cheers! "CC"

The Galley Cafe is a local old school diner that's been around for longer than I have! It's been family-owned since 1957 and it's only open from 7:00 a.m. to 2:00This is a gem of a classic breakfast & lunch spot that has about 30 tables as well as counter seating that serves solid & no frills food. I love the breakfast burrito with pico de gallo. Expect a waiting list on the weekends, but it always hits the spot.It's right next to the marina and the service is prompt and friendly. Friendly regulars and neighborhood vibes! I love the Galley Cafe!

Came to breakfast here looking for a more relaxed place that was by the ocean and I'm so happy with my breakfast here. It's a small dinner that reminds me of Al's in Minnesota. I went with 2 sausages an over easy egg and a pancake with fresh squeezed orange juice. The pancake was very fluffy and delicious. My brother ordered a chili cheese omelette and WOW! Now I know next time to order that. The flavors worked so well in an omelette version and there was cheese that was melted and the chilly was just delicious. That was definitely a unique dish I would come back here for that. You are able to park on the street as there is no parking lot but we got lucky with a spot right next to it. You have the option of sitting at the bar or the booths. Really great place that has history and great food!

Galley Cafe is another bfast & lunch institution in Newport Beach. It has been in biz since 1957, and serves hearty bfasts and good chili. In addition, one of their specialties is homemade applesauce.I was pretty hungry after golf, so I ordered the meatlovers omelette. It has bacon, ham, sausage & cheese, and it is massive. I ordered applesauce as my side. The omelette was outstanding. It was massive, and packed with meat. In addition, the applesauce was nice & smooth vs the crap we get at the store.Regarding the ambiance, its small & quaint with some counter seats and a few tables. I came on a weekday around 1 pm, and it was busy. We were lucky to get a table for 3. This place must be packed in the morning and on weekends. The service was friendly & warm, just what you would expect from a family owned place that has been open nearly 50 years.If I lived in NB, I would definitely be a regular here. I will solely have to settle for the Galley being on our rotation after golf.

Really good, fun, hidden gem of a place to go and get some breakfast. I really get the feeling that the people who run this are not in it to make a bunch of money, they seem to do it because they love it. If I was a secret multimillionaire (or Billionaire these days) this is EXACTLY the kind of place that I would want to have. Only open 7am to 2pm. All of the people are very nice, very accommodating. Terrific location, nestled discreetly amongst multimillion-dollar homes and near an ocean pier/dock area that has some boats close to that price range as well. But this diner/cafe is very unassuming, laid back, great vibe and wonderful people who run and take care of it. Smaller place, only about 25-30 seats so it's cozy.On to the food, overall, very good! There are a few things that they are famous for and known for. One is the Chili Cheese omelet. Secret recipe from the owner's family, been around since the 50's. Also well known for their Benedicts. I saw someone who had the pancakes and they looked amazing, definitely ordering those to try on the next visit in some sort of combo. Two of us did have the Chili Cheese Omelete, the third person had the corned beef hash and eggs plate. The omelet was good, not blow your mind good, but hearty and a good portion size. Corned beef hash was pretty good as well, eggs cooked correctly and the hash browns a little extra crispy as requested. I did think that we should have all gotten 2 pieces of toast with our orders, but alas, only 1 each. The pricing is more than reasonable, especially considering the area and location. It must be that secret millionaire thing that I mentioned earlier...lol.I am totally planning on going back and trying them again, especially during the week when maybe they are not quite as busy. We had about a 15-minute or so wait outside (not bad) but be aware that you are on the water, and it can be breezy and cool so dress appropriately if you run a little cold anyway. One thing that I would like to suggest is that for the people waiting outside, it would be nice if they offered a cup of coffee service, in Styrofoam cups if there is an ordinance about glass/ceramic outside, for those that are waiting. I used to live in Laguna Beach and there was a terrific breakfast place called Corky's that used to do this. No one there is going to run off w/o paying and just add it to the bill as they get seated. I can wait 30 minutes or more for a table if I have a cup of coffee in hand but will start wanting to leave after about 15 minutes if I don't. Just a suggestion.Highly recommend the Galley Cafe and am excited to go back and try some other menu items. I hope that you find this review helpful.

Love this gem tucked away in Newport's Lido Island. Step back in time to the 60s where the eggs are fluffy, the bacon crackles, and the hash browns are crisp like God intended. Service is great but arrive early or endure the wait as it seats only 35 or so.

Great little spot! staff was smiling and friendly, quick to keep the coffee topped off and the food and atmosphere was just as great! Definitely a place to visit

Quaint, intimate diner across the water from Balboa Island. Diner food is top notch. Service is impeccable! Fourth generation owners make this place unique. An enjoyable time was had by all.