Cozy Cup Cafe, Hollister
Cozy Cup Cafe in Hollister, California
The perfect place to stop for breakfast on our way to Pinnacles was in Hollister. Checking online beforehand there seemed plenty of choices. We opted for the Cozy Cup Cafe on 4th Street. It was easy to find and though there was no parking lot, there were plenty of parking places readily available on the street.
From the outside it does indeed look cozy, as it is tucked between two taller buildings. Over the door is a bright blue awning. On the sidewalk stands a 4 foot high wooden statue of a chef. Next to it is a large raised bed of shrubs and two benches.
Inside there was only one other customer so plenty of choice as to where we sat. First we sat in the front but right overhead was a loudspeaker playing quite loudly, so we moved to the other side near a window overlooking a small alley. Enormous green plants were growing in a raised bed against the adjacent building and in one of them was a large stuffed toy.
We were presented with a menu with a whole page of specials clipped to the outside. Tom chose the Louisiana Scramble from the specials menu ($8.99) and I went for the oatmeal ($3.99). The coffee was $1.99.
Now to describe the interior. It lives up to its name. As you walk through the door you step onto a welcome map. Next to the door is a dresser covered in kitchy knick knacks and lace doilleys. On closer inspection all the articles have price tags on them. The opposite side wall from where we were sitting sported a collection of clocks of all sizes. The biggest had a white face and made by Antoine De Praiteau of Paris in 1801. Of course it could have been a reproduction. You could see the minute hand move every second. It was fascinating to watch time pass. A collection of small blue plates were hanging from an ornamental rack. Nearby was a wooden pig with coat hooks from which hung a sun hat. All the windows had venetian blinds with fancy black and white pelmets along the top.
A couple of signs also decorated the walls. One particularly caught our eyes. It was hanging over the kitchen door and said ‘Quit cherbellyakin!’
All the tables were wooden and there were no booths. There were four stools at a short, low counter with a granite top.
Our server was very efficient and friendly. The only other worker there was the chef who was very verbal. While we were there several other customers came in and they were obviously locals as a lot of loud bantering erupted all around us.
So howabout the food? Tom’s scramble came on a large, green, oval plate and looked appetizing. My oatmeal came in a large, round, blue shallow bowl. The milk, in a fair sized stainless steel jug, came on a small orange plate along with small plastic containers containing brown sugar and raisins. A bottle of honey also stood on the plate. I also ordered a cup of fruit and that consisted of chunks of melon and strawberries.
Tom reported that the Louisiana Scramble was great and spicy and the home fried potatoes were good. Coffee just mediocre. I liked the oatmeal. It was hot and not lumpy or runny. I had the honey instead of the brown sugar and that was really nice. The fruit was just right too.
The restroom is outside and although the door was both grubby and sticky and needed a good wash down, the inside was clean and functional. A frieze around the top of the wall depicted pigs dressed as chefs and waiters. The is a picture of a pig on the wall and even the plate around the light switch had a pig on it.
This is one place we will visit again. Nice atmosphere and the food is wonderful.
Cozy Cup Cafe
380 4th St
Hollister, CA 95023
October 22 2010 07:57 am | Breakfast Log
