Our buddy was visiting from Houston and preparing to leave out on a 500 mile bike ride with my husband. We wanted to take him to a hearty and delicious breakfast before heading out. Half Day Cafe fit the bill. Their food is prepared from very fresh ingredients behind the counter where you place your order, allowing customers to closely follow the preparations. I ordered the omelette with roasted veggies and was pleasantly surprised at how delicious roasted Brussels sprouts are in an omelette. The roasted potatoes on the side were perfectly seasoned and crispy. There are several types of toast to choose from, with large slices cut from freshly baked loaves of bread. Yes, their bread is baked fresh daily on the premises. Along with muffins and other bakery sweets, the aroma is what always makes my mouth water when I walk in the door. This visit, we shared a seed-nut-fruit bar that was the perfect blend of sweet and salty. Coffee is always fresh and plentiful with self-serve refills. And don't miss the fresh squeezed orange juice. It's these little touches that set this breakfast and lunch gem a notch above its competitors in Rochester, a city with lots of good breakfast spots to choose from. We haven't tried lunch but the soups are made from scratch and the wraps and hearty sandwiches look delicious. Fresh fruit salads are a treat anytime. I make lots of quiches at home so typically skip their daily quiche, but I have tried the spinach quiche and was sold. Very good. Vegetarians as well as meat lovers will have many choices here. The dining area is large and clean. I love the original artwork, a nice creative touch. Orders are placed at the counter and served at your table by friendly staff. The system is quite efficient. Prices are very reasonable. My only complaint is that they are not open Sunday's, our favorite day for brunch out. So we definitely make the time for weekday excursions.
(5)
Linda D.
Well I don't quite get all the great reviews for this place. I WANTED to like it, but just didn't get any help from the restaurant itself. We went on a Saturday at 1:00 pm and the place was packed. I took that as a good sign. You shuffle through a very slow-moving line to place your order, all the while eyeing the dining area for an available table to snag. Then you get whatever ready made items you ordered plus your drink cups and are given a number-on-a-stick for the items that need to be made up. We had veggie soup and a chili plus a grilled cheese sandwich to share. We polished off our soups within 15 minutes and still no grilled cheese. When it was finally brought to our table - I kid you not - the cheese was STILL COLD and NOT MELTED. Huh?? So we flagged down a lady cleaning off tables, who apologized and said she would get it fixed. Within 2 minutes the same sandwich was back on our table, having obviously been MICROWAVED. Sigh. So disappointing. But the soups were pretty good.
(2)
Christina L.
This place is coined the local Panera Bread, even though there is a Panera nearby. The menu is made up of a few different options than provided by a Panera though. But you can still do Pick 2. I opted for a Pick 2 with half a Cobb sandwich and a Turkey and Wild Rice Soup. The Cobb sandwich was huge and completely fell apart before I started eating it. It came with turkey, ham, bacon, avocado and tomato. The sandwich is cold, not toasted and comes dry (you have to ask for mayo). As for the soup, it was creamy and probably the best part of my meal. The atmosphere of the restaurant itself is cozy but small. Decor isn't a huge thing but the food makes up for it. Overall, 3/5 stars. Service was okay and food was decent.
(3)
Food L.
Very expensive for average food. I ordered the grilled cheese with bacon, a lemonade, and a apple tart. Total bill was over $10 bucks. For that type of money I expect for my stomach to sing praises, not grumble in disbelife.
(1)
K C.
Great place to eat breakfast and lunch when I'm in town. The soups are as good as Papa Joe's Market Place and that's saying something because PJ wins awards in the area for their soup. Their sandwiches are some of the best in the area. In house baked bread makes for a better sandwich along with good meats. Also I've never been disappointed with breakfast all the years I've eaten there.I read some of the reviews and I got to say that one should not judge the food by the sometimes bad wait staff. I have to admit that it does get very busy at noontime but does that say something about the popularity of the food. Now for the one reviewer who complained about paying a lot for the food and getting so little just look what he ordered and how much he paid. I think he'd be better off eating at a lunch wagon !!!! I hope that you have a good experience as I've had all these years. Increase the peace
(4)
Ron C.
2-3 of my real life friends, LOVE this place as do a few favorite yelpers and as I was at OU most of the day Friday 3-20-15, it was close enough to try. WOW! yes it reminded me a lot of Ridleys at Wattles & Rochester Road. Walked in was not sure whether to go to a table or go to the counter like panera, but a cool young lady named Jessica saw my confusion & said I can help you with anything you need. As I studied the large menu board, I was torn, omelet , salads, soup or a deli sandwich? Trying to remember the highlights from the yelp reviews,the eggchilada, called my name the loudest. $7.25 Eggs chili, jalapeno peppers, cheese, sausage,peppadew peppers, , american diced potato's & 2 slices of the fresh bread, your choice!! So you order, pay , grab a seat & they bring it out to you. April brought out my food, and offered to fetch any & all condiments , even a togo box The omelet was huge & had more chorizo sausage in it than the eggs could hold. Truly was a work of art & a taste bud explosion. For my breads I chose cherry pecan & cinnamon raisin Everything was absolutely perfect. Planning & Plotting future visits to try the salad trio & a deli sandwich
(5)
Alex K.
Roughly a 4.5. I got the Eggchilada omelette (had chili, peppadew peppers, jalapeno peppers, cheese, sausage, and maybe some other stuff in it) and a cup of gumbo [that's made a bowl for free on Saturdays] for a total of about $11. The food was mostly all great and served pretty quickly, but I felt like an idiot when I got my food. Half Day doesn't exactly make it obvious that you order your food at the counter, pay, get your drink and whatever, and then sit down. It's an unusual-ish system, but I know better for next time. The Eggchilada was pretty huge and filling for $7.25, and also came with toast and taters. The gumbo was fairly mediocre and had a "canned soup base" sort of flavor to it, but it was okay, and the price was right. Half Day Cafe is a good option for breakfast in the Rochester area -- the only letdowns are that it's only open until 3, and they're closed on Sundays, which is just strange to me (religious reasons, maybe?). 4.5 knocked down because we weren't offered the complimentary mini baked goods basket thing (presumably because they ran out), they didn't have rye bread (the marble was still good though), and the ordering situation was a bit unusual. I'll be back.
(4)
Ashley I.
Half Day Cafe is a hidden treasure! From the outside, you might never be enticed to go in. When you do enter, the walls are painted with bold colors. There is a lot of fun artwork too. I recommend going for brunch. The food is inexpensive for what it is. I got the gluten free vegetarian Rueben. Can you say delicious?! I also love the gluten free quesadilla.
(5)
Vivian X.
Half Day is great. They have a less-than-alluring exterior, but I assure you that they're probably trying to make an ironic statement or something because the food and interior atmosphere is quite the opposite. The menu is extensive. There are a ton of options to choose from for both breakfast and lunch. Seriously. If you're feeling eggs, there are 25 potential dishes to order, in addition to customizations. It's a shame they're not open for dinner, though; they close at 3pm (hence the name).
(4)
Chris W.
This review is intended to cover the numerous visits as well as the numerous corporate lunch events catered by Half Day Cafe. The food is top shelf. Everything I've had here has been terrific. From the fresh-baked bread to the house-made soups, this is a great place for lunch or for catering your office party/meeting event. The staff has always been friendly and helpful, especially when working with a large catering order with special requests, substitutions and the like. The deliveries have always been accurate and arrived on schedule.
(5)
JILL V.
Very fresh, good selection. I have been in twice for lunch. I had the soup and grilled veggie sandwich. All seemed to be prepared on site. The next time I had chicken salad. I noticed a sign offering buy one get one free muffins on the weekends. I thought they would say they have 3 choices but I was offered like 10 different kinds. I got six different kinds of muffins- some were still warm. It is clean place. The owner has been there every time we went in. Service was a little slow on Satuday but maybe it was just a busy time.
(5)
Phillip B.
Don't believe all the hype of the other reviews, this place is a pass.Very low quality meats and cheese.The staff Seem to not give a F*&k that when I was ready to order. When I asked what the soups were the girl taking my order just pointed at a sign "rude much". I waited 10 mins for a sandwich to would take a 4 yr old 3 mins to make and the whole time i was waiting the goon working the register just stared at me "creepy" I got the ECCENTRIC couldn't tell one meat from another and couldn't be more than 2oz of meat on the sandwich. The overall feel of the sandwich was wet and soft very unpleasant. This cafe is a disgrace to all deli/ cafes. No second chances for this establishment.
(1)
Chris J.
Have seen them a couple times since they opened next to Busch's market - finally stopped in. They are a nice, local place for a quick breakfast and/or sandwich. Tried the meadowbrook rueben (that is how they spell it?) on rye and really enjoyed it. Also tried the white clam chowder and that was quite good. Staff was very friendly and helpful. Cool art work on the walls.
(4)
Ryan P.
Really cool place! Walls are decorated with cool paintings. They play great oldies music. Got the breakfast burrito for a little bit less than what I would get in California. Burrito was stuffed with potatoes, veggies, turkey sausage, cheese, and eggs. It was perfectly cooked. Very friendly staff here! Will definitely come back and try more menu items. Really wish they had Tapatio hot sauce though. It would have gone great with my burrito. Other than that, great food.
(5)
Emma S.
I'm gonna be honest, the hours this place is open is really inconvenient. I get out of school at 2:30, not leaving me much time to sit down and eat my meal. I literally only like the spinach quiche you can find in the case near the cash register. everything else is oily. i ain't hate too hard but they need to step up.
(3)
Jenny T.
This place is perfect for an awesome breakfast! The staff are super friendly and the food is absolutely delicious. Loads of options to choose from, including vegetarian, and an assortment of teas. Highly recommend the egg white sandwich- it comes with goat cheese.... Foodgasmic
(5)
Ani B.
doesn't look like much inside; seating is a premium at lunch time. wait in line to place an order, pay and wait for your food to be brought to you. took about 15 minutes on a thursday. friend said that was the longest it had ever taken. food is really great. cherry chicken salad sandwich on Italian was fantastic. i like flaked chicken so the ice cube size chunks of chicken were the only thing i would have changed. got the "greens" a tiny salad but they were good. friend got the Mediterranean sandwich, and it was grilled and had a tendency to fall apart. NO atmosphere at all, and crowded but still the food was great.
(4)
Martha T.
I cannot say enough good things about the meal I had here. Fresh sliced bread for their sandwiches, lots of sides to choose from, and fast service. I had a turkey reuben and a side of grilled brussel sprouts. (I didn't even know I liked brussel sprouts until this meal). On a side note, I think I've tried a turkey reuben at every restaurant around. They are my absolute favorite. But I have to say that half day cafe's was hands down the best I've had in a long time. Highly recommend this place for lunch! Or breakfast, they had many breakfast menu options as well which I'm sure would be divine too. Grab a molasses cookie while you're there, you won't be sorry. Happy girl!
(5)
Amy B.
My mom and I came here for Breakfast this morning after moving all day yesterday. She heard about it before, and I've driven by it a few times, so we swung in to get a bite to eat. I wasn't sure what to expect, but my mom and I loved it! It's a fast casual place, where you place your order at the counter, and they walk it out to you. They have plenty of delicious options for breakfast and lunch, and we had a hard time choosing. After studying the menu, on the recommendation of the girl behind the counter, we went with the breakfast extravaganza, which was delicious! I substituted the pork with a cup of fruit, and it was enough for my mom and I to split. My mom enjoyed her breakfast as well, and the staff was really friendly. I really enjoyed it here, and would gladly come back for breakfast or lunch anytime. Prices are extremely reasonable, the food is awesome and fresh, and the staff is friendly and helpful. If your in the area, swing by. The food is worth it!
(4)
Raphie B.
I had a really tasty vegetarian wrap here. It had roasted vegetables (broccoli, asparagus, squash, etc), feta cheese, and avocado, if I remember right. It was really, really tasty. The roasted vegetables were incredibly tasty and fresh and added some serious oomph to a somewhat basic wrap style sandwich. I tried to go back this morning to try the roasted vegetable omelette, but alas, they are closed on Sundays.
(4)
M D.
Although in the area frequently (Trader Joes), this was our first time here. What a pleasant surprise! Generous portions, plenty of GF options. Colorful art work on walls. Very fast service. And Listerine to swish with (in bathroom).
(5)
Alexandra M.
I've given this place three chances because I've read the reviews and they seem positive but I will never eat here again. The service is so lazy and rude. Not just once but three times. If you're in the mood for overpriced food and crap service this your place.
(1)
Andrew S.
Stopped in for breakfast and the food is awesome. Got the bmaa omelette and It was delicious. The hash browns were top tier and the toast options are pretty diverse (I had marbled rye). The staff was extremely friendly and helpful. This is my breakfast/ sandwich stop from now on in the area.
(4)
Victoria W.
Quite disappointed with Half Day Cafe after a lunch visit today. We live very close by and I used to visit frequently for lunch with my kids. Always had a great kids menu with great prices. My girls love their PB&J sandwiches which used to feature a thick layer of peanut butter. For $2.99 with a drink and a side it was a good deal. Came for lunch today after not being back for a few months and the kids meals have jumped to $5 and no longer come with a drink or a side. Come on Half Day! Getting a little greedy, are we??! $5 for a PB&J sandwich that had about a teaspoon of actual peanut butter with no side and no drink. Seriously?? Give me a break. We won't be coming back. And don't get me started on their overpriced catering menu. Oh my word! Catered from Half Day for Mother's Day and long story short, I was not impressed with the quantity or quality of food.
(2)
Shannon C.
I love Half Day Cafe. What a gem. It's my favorite place to stop in for a sandwich. It's totally unique and has the friendliest employees who create the most satisfying salads, sandwiches and soups. Their breakfast options are great, too. Next time you're on your way to Panera, consider trying this out instead.
(5)
Kara D.
YUM! The breakfast here is awesome. Everyone in my group ordered a variation of eggs - omelettes, scrambled, and over-hard. They were all cooked perfectly, as were the potatoes served with. Better yet is the homemade toast! Definitely try the cinnamon raisin. The little basket of baked goods that you receive upon ordering is a nice touch. Their coffee is also very good. A friend of mine says that their pancakes (particularly the strawberry) are the best she's ever had at a restaurant, so they're next on my list!
(5)
Neely G.
Amazing breakfast and lunch. Quick, friendly, tons of healthy and delicious options. The house salad and cinnamon swirl bread were my highlights !
(4)
Rob E.
This place is awesome. The previous attempts at this spot never fared well, but these guys have it down to a science. Just make good food. That's it. They bake their own bread and other pastries. Sandwiches are always very tasty and hold up well. Omelets are great, soup is superbly made in house, and my preschooler loves the toys they have. It is only a breakfast and lunch spot so don't delay. Not much around this place is a non-chain restaurant, especially for breakfast. It is tucked in between Trader Joe's and Busch's, go for the jugular and hit this place up.
(5)
J B.
I loved this place when it was Pic-a-deli. Always great sandwiches. The Golf Club is still on the menu but now, sadly, a smaller sandwich. Prices have increased as well. Food overall is very good, but pricing is a bit over-the-top for some items.
(3)
J T.
What a nice surprise! I didn't even know this place was hiding in the corner of a strip mall I frequent. Thanks to my fellow Yelpers for the recommendation :-) Several friends and I were meeting for our regular lunch date and suggested that we try something new. As other reviewers wrote, the inside is much nicer than you would expect from the small door and window you see from the parking lot. It is cafeteria style, so you order from the counter then grab your drinks and sit down with your number while the staff preps the food and delivers it to the table. Everyone behind the counter was super nice and very helpful when we asked about various food items and how they were prepared. They have a great selection of sandwiches, soups, and salads so there is something for everyone. We even took some awesome house made brownies home for later. Our food was brought out quickly and everything we ordered was fresh and tasty! The dining area was clean and there was someone roaming and cleaning throughout the very busy lunch period. We all immediately said we will definitely be back!
(4)
Emily M.
The food is good especially the salads but the service is sooooooo slow. The staff doesn't even acknowledge you when you are standing there waiting to order.
(4)
Jodi W.
Love this restaurant! The Hawthorne is my "go to" on homemade rye bread and their soups are amazing. I wish they were open on Sundays!
(5)
Faithy M.
This is a true treasure, tucked into the corner of this strip mall that also has another of my FAVorite places... Trader Joes Market! Chris , the owner even sliced my fresh rye bread, which was wonderful. Very creative menu, fabulous home made soup (4 choices each day) Huge serving of home made bread pudding ( Chris uses the day old muffins) with raspberry sauce for only $1.99!!! Nummy The staff is very competent and friendly. The local art work on the walls is a very nice touch, too! Your sandwich is made to order.... So you can have it your way .... & oh, so FRESH! I must try the breakfast, next time I am in this 'Hood!
(5)
J M.
Great local breakfast/lunch spot. Daily homemade breads, soups, sandwiches, salads, baked goods. Cute little spot by Ace Hardware in corner of shopping center. Hidden gem that's probably often overlooked for less tasty chains nearby. Very fresh and local with great variety. Worth trying their house made tuna salad, egg salad, quiches, and soups. You'll be back for sure.
(3)
Mansoor S.
I've been here a couple of times for breakfast with family. As someone with a pescatarian diet when eating out, I really like this place, but it's especially good for my pescatarian wife with celiac disease. She LOVED the gluten free quesadilla bread and the filling wasn't bad. My egg white sandwich was great and the spinach quiche was awesome. The eggchilada without chili wasn't bad, but not as good as the earlier choices. Staff members were nice when dealing with my long and complicated phone order at a busy time of day. We'll definitely be back!
(4)
Arthur H.
My wife had heard very good things about this place and I have to say that the recommendations are worth it. We visited on a late Saturday morning and the place was busy, but not overly so. With that, we were able to talk to the ladies behind the counter to get a feel for the place. It is a bit quirky, so a few hints are in order. First, when you walk in, you might be a bit confused. On the left side, you will find a counter behind which the staff are preparing the meals. You might be tempted to go to your seat, but it is a place where you place your order, pay, then go sit down. It is not a service-based restaurant (waitress/waiter service). The menu is a huge sign on the wall above the counter on the left, and displays all the options for breakfast, salads, and sandwiches you can get. They also have a nice selection of bakery items including pastries and breads. So, go to your left upon entering and figure out what to order. I had the Thai omelet, while my wife had the banana pancakes (more a bit later). Once you order and have your number on a little sign, you move down the line and choose your beverage - and don't forget to pick out your mug for coffee! Then, at the end of the line is the cash register where you will pay for your meal. It is a bit confusing, as I wasn't expecting this style of ordering, but once you figure out how it works, it is very easy to manage. The coffee station is back near the entrance, and they have several different varieties of coffee flavors, including regular and decaf. I had the cinnamon hazelnut, which was very nice. The food is brought out to you pretty quickly. I have to say that my omelet was very unusual in that it includes grilled chicken, carrots, red peppers, broccoli, onions and peanut sauce. It was very delicious and fairly priced at $6.95. It also included roasted potatoes and homemade toast (variety of options considering they make several varieties of breads). My wife's banana pancakes were very good, with banana slices on top of the pancakes, and are served with one meat side. The venue also has very neat wall art, which is for sale, that decorates the place well. The staff could keep the place a tiny bit cleaner, but I am sure we came in after the morning rush. It was not dirty by any means, but you could tell they get a great deal of traffic. My wife characterized the place as a hometown Panera, which I would generally agree with. However, their breakfast choices are much nicer than what they have! All in all, a very good experience and we will definitely come back.
(5)
Whitney L.
Yum! Great food! Lot's of awesome choices. It's only open for breakfast/lunch. You can get meals, or sides, or mix and match. It's a really unique experience. They have a ton of great breads to choose from (makes getting a side of toast very fun!). Great vegetarian options as well.
(4)
Rich B.
Ok, after all the great reviews, decided to give it a try. I was not disappointed. The decor when you walk in is very nice, the place is very clean, both positives. The menu is pretty large, so we decided on blueberry french toast a waffle and a breakfast sandwich. To me the star was the french toast, cut fresh to order, then grilled, great flavor ! the other items were good as well. While eating I was looking at the rest of the menu, looks like lots of interesting choices, which makes it a place I will have to return.
(4)
Scott C.
I found this place because of Yelp, so thank you Yelpers. What a find! The owners are about as nice as they come. You order up at the counter and then they bring the food to you. Everything they use is fresh, including the bread that they bake themselves. My omelet was excellent and I really enjoyed the large booths and decor of the restaurant. Coffee is self serve, and it was good coffee. You feel like you've discovered a true non-franchise treasure when you eat at the Half Day Cafe. I don't live close to here, but I've bookmarked it for my trips to the east side of Michigan. This is my newly designated favorite breakfast place in this area of Michigan!
(5)
K L.
My go-to place for breakfast and lunch. Fresh and delicious food, friendly staff, imaginative menu. The Reuben sandwich was divine today. I'm already craving another!
(5)
Kat H.
I think this place has a really super menu (I stole one to use for ideas at home:) ), but the two times I've eaten here, have been less than 5-star. The place does have redeeming qualities, however. I loved the vegetarian reuben in theory, but in practice it was pretty soggy. The flavor was good, but the (grilled) bread tore when I tried to pick it up. Oh well, it came with a side of pasta salad that I wasn't expecting! And, seriously, props on the idea. I really miss reubens as a vegetarian. The roasted vegetable salad was kind of a let down. It's a TON of romaine lettuce with a little bit of the roasted veggies and cheese. More veggies and about half the romaine would make it so so much better. It is pretty swell that you get pita with your salads... Overall, although I was somewhat underwhelmed by the two meals that I had, I would definitely return here because I think they can do a lot better. They certainly have a great menu. And I always always appreciate places that have tasty, creative vegetarian options.
(4)
F T.
Everything about this place is absolutely fantastic....the food, service, and prices are A+. Great menu with lots of choices. Breakfast is great and the sandwiches are huge. The only negative is they are closed on Sunday!!
(5)
Brian N.
Been here 5-10 times. It's my favorite breakfast and lunch (sandwich place) cafe. All breakfasts have been great. I've had the standard breakfast fare as well as a burrito, also a egg white sandwich. For lunch I've had a bunch of sandwiches, they are huge and they have bread made in house. Love the sour dough.
(5)
Kevin J.
Delicious breakfast. Fast and priced right. I had the ham and cheese omelette. It came with seasoned redskin potatoes and extra thick slices of homemade toast. All under $7. I'll be back.
(5)
Matt S.
Best breakfast and lunch place you could go to. Homemade bread, homemade soup, homemade pastries, homemade everything.
(5)
Sandy F.
I love this place for breakfast and lunch. Very tasty and economical. Lots of choices and everything tastes so fresh. We also had them cater my son's graduation party. Highly recommend them as an option for that. So many people remarked they were so glad to get something different than 'boring grad party chicken and mostaccioli". What's more-- Chris the owner is very helpful. We had a couple of minor things happen and Chris was right on it to fix them. It's unrealistic to expect a perfect performance. It's impressive to have great service recovery when something goes wrong, and that's what Chris provided.
(4)
Amanda W.
I'm not sure how I've missed this place all these years. Meeting a friend, I checked Yelp for a new breakfast place. This place is awesome! Cool art on the walls, awesome coffee and a great menu. I had the Thai chicken omelette and was a little leery. I mean broccoli and peanut sauce in eggs just sounded a bit risky. But, it totally works! Thin sliced chicken, bell pepper and provolone rounded it out. The portions were generous and the prices fair. They have a small display with baked goods for sale that looked great. I can't wait to come back here.
(5)
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Address :3134 Walton Blvd
Rochester Hills, MI, 48309
Takes Reservations : No Delivery : No Take-out : Yes Accepts Credit Cards : Yes Good For : Breakfast, Brunch Parking : Private Lot Bike Parking : Yes Wheelchair Accessible : Yes Good for Kids : Yes Good for Groups : Yes Attire : Casual Ambience : Casual Noise Level : Quiet Alcohol : No Outdoor Seating : No Wi-Fi : Free Has TV : No Waiter Service : No Caters : Yes
Cheryl S.
Our buddy was visiting from Houston and preparing to leave out on a 500 mile bike ride with my husband. We wanted to take him to a hearty and delicious breakfast before heading out. Half Day Cafe fit the bill. Their food is prepared from very fresh ingredients behind the counter where you place your order, allowing customers to closely follow the preparations. I ordered the omelette with roasted veggies and was pleasantly surprised at how delicious roasted Brussels sprouts are in an omelette. The roasted potatoes on the side were perfectly seasoned and crispy. There are several types of toast to choose from, with large slices cut from freshly baked loaves of bread. Yes, their bread is baked fresh daily on the premises. Along with muffins and other bakery sweets, the aroma is what always makes my mouth water when I walk in the door. This visit, we shared a seed-nut-fruit bar that was the perfect blend of sweet and salty. Coffee is always fresh and plentiful with self-serve refills. And don't miss the fresh squeezed orange juice. It's these little touches that set this breakfast and lunch gem a notch above its competitors in Rochester, a city with lots of good breakfast spots to choose from. We haven't tried lunch but the soups are made from scratch and the wraps and hearty sandwiches look delicious. Fresh fruit salads are a treat anytime. I make lots of quiches at home so typically skip their daily quiche, but I have tried the spinach quiche and was sold. Very good. Vegetarians as well as meat lovers will have many choices here. The dining area is large and clean. I love the original artwork, a nice creative touch. Orders are placed at the counter and served at your table by friendly staff. The system is quite efficient. Prices are very reasonable. My only complaint is that they are not open Sunday's, our favorite day for brunch out. So we definitely make the time for weekday excursions.
(5)Linda D.
Well I don't quite get all the great reviews for this place. I WANTED to like it, but just didn't get any help from the restaurant itself. We went on a Saturday at 1:00 pm and the place was packed. I took that as a good sign. You shuffle through a very slow-moving line to place your order, all the while eyeing the dining area for an available table to snag. Then you get whatever ready made items you ordered plus your drink cups and are given a number-on-a-stick for the items that need to be made up. We had veggie soup and a chili plus a grilled cheese sandwich to share. We polished off our soups within 15 minutes and still no grilled cheese. When it was finally brought to our table - I kid you not - the cheese was STILL COLD and NOT MELTED. Huh?? So we flagged down a lady cleaning off tables, who apologized and said she would get it fixed. Within 2 minutes the same sandwich was back on our table, having obviously been MICROWAVED. Sigh. So disappointing. But the soups were pretty good.
(2)Christina L.
This place is coined the local Panera Bread, even though there is a Panera nearby. The menu is made up of a few different options than provided by a Panera though. But you can still do Pick 2. I opted for a Pick 2 with half a Cobb sandwich and a Turkey and Wild Rice Soup. The Cobb sandwich was huge and completely fell apart before I started eating it. It came with turkey, ham, bacon, avocado and tomato. The sandwich is cold, not toasted and comes dry (you have to ask for mayo). As for the soup, it was creamy and probably the best part of my meal. The atmosphere of the restaurant itself is cozy but small. Decor isn't a huge thing but the food makes up for it. Overall, 3/5 stars. Service was okay and food was decent.
(3)Food L.
Very expensive for average food. I ordered the grilled cheese with bacon, a lemonade, and a apple tart. Total bill was over $10 bucks. For that type of money I expect for my stomach to sing praises, not grumble in disbelife.
(1)K C.
Great place to eat breakfast and lunch when I'm in town. The soups are as good as Papa Joe's Market Place and that's saying something because PJ wins awards in the area for their soup. Their sandwiches are some of the best in the area. In house baked bread makes for a better sandwich along with good meats. Also I've never been disappointed with breakfast all the years I've eaten there.I read some of the reviews and I got to say that one should not judge the food by the sometimes bad wait staff. I have to admit that it does get very busy at noontime but does that say something about the popularity of the food. Now for the one reviewer who complained about paying a lot for the food and getting so little just look what he ordered and how much he paid. I think he'd be better off eating at a lunch wagon !!!! I hope that you have a good experience as I've had all these years. Increase the peace
(4)Ron C.
2-3 of my real life friends, LOVE this place as do a few favorite yelpers and as I was at OU most of the day Friday 3-20-15, it was close enough to try. WOW! yes it reminded me a lot of Ridleys at Wattles & Rochester Road. Walked in was not sure whether to go to a table or go to the counter like panera, but a cool young lady named Jessica saw my confusion & said I can help you with anything you need. As I studied the large menu board, I was torn, omelet , salads, soup or a deli sandwich? Trying to remember the highlights from the yelp reviews,the eggchilada, called my name the loudest. $7.25 Eggs chili, jalapeno peppers, cheese, sausage,peppadew peppers, , american diced potato's & 2 slices of the fresh bread, your choice!! So you order, pay , grab a seat & they bring it out to you. April brought out my food, and offered to fetch any & all condiments , even a togo box The omelet was huge & had more chorizo sausage in it than the eggs could hold. Truly was a work of art & a taste bud explosion. For my breads I chose cherry pecan & cinnamon raisin Everything was absolutely perfect. Planning & Plotting future visits to try the salad trio & a deli sandwich
(5)Alex K.
Roughly a 4.5. I got the Eggchilada omelette (had chili, peppadew peppers, jalapeno peppers, cheese, sausage, and maybe some other stuff in it) and a cup of gumbo [that's made a bowl for free on Saturdays] for a total of about $11. The food was mostly all great and served pretty quickly, but I felt like an idiot when I got my food. Half Day doesn't exactly make it obvious that you order your food at the counter, pay, get your drink and whatever, and then sit down. It's an unusual-ish system, but I know better for next time. The Eggchilada was pretty huge and filling for $7.25, and also came with toast and taters. The gumbo was fairly mediocre and had a "canned soup base" sort of flavor to it, but it was okay, and the price was right. Half Day Cafe is a good option for breakfast in the Rochester area -- the only letdowns are that it's only open until 3, and they're closed on Sundays, which is just strange to me (religious reasons, maybe?). 4.5 knocked down because we weren't offered the complimentary mini baked goods basket thing (presumably because they ran out), they didn't have rye bread (the marble was still good though), and the ordering situation was a bit unusual. I'll be back.
(4)Ashley I.
Half Day Cafe is a hidden treasure! From the outside, you might never be enticed to go in. When you do enter, the walls are painted with bold colors. There is a lot of fun artwork too. I recommend going for brunch. The food is inexpensive for what it is. I got the gluten free vegetarian Rueben. Can you say delicious?! I also love the gluten free quesadilla.
(5)Vivian X.
Half Day is great. They have a less-than-alluring exterior, but I assure you that they're probably trying to make an ironic statement or something because the food and interior atmosphere is quite the opposite. The menu is extensive. There are a ton of options to choose from for both breakfast and lunch. Seriously. If you're feeling eggs, there are 25 potential dishes to order, in addition to customizations. It's a shame they're not open for dinner, though; they close at 3pm (hence the name).
(4)Chris W.
This review is intended to cover the numerous visits as well as the numerous corporate lunch events catered by Half Day Cafe. The food is top shelf. Everything I've had here has been terrific. From the fresh-baked bread to the house-made soups, this is a great place for lunch or for catering your office party/meeting event. The staff has always been friendly and helpful, especially when working with a large catering order with special requests, substitutions and the like. The deliveries have always been accurate and arrived on schedule.
(5)JILL V.
Very fresh, good selection. I have been in twice for lunch. I had the soup and grilled veggie sandwich. All seemed to be prepared on site. The next time I had chicken salad. I noticed a sign offering buy one get one free muffins on the weekends. I thought they would say they have 3 choices but I was offered like 10 different kinds. I got six different kinds of muffins- some were still warm. It is clean place. The owner has been there every time we went in. Service was a little slow on Satuday but maybe it was just a busy time.
(5)Phillip B.
Don't believe all the hype of the other reviews, this place is a pass.Very low quality meats and cheese.The staff Seem to not give a F*&k that when I was ready to order. When I asked what the soups were the girl taking my order just pointed at a sign "rude much". I waited 10 mins for a sandwich to would take a 4 yr old 3 mins to make and the whole time i was waiting the goon working the register just stared at me "creepy" I got the ECCENTRIC couldn't tell one meat from another and couldn't be more than 2oz of meat on the sandwich. The overall feel of the sandwich was wet and soft very unpleasant. This cafe is a disgrace to all deli/ cafes. No second chances for this establishment.
(1)Chris J.
Have seen them a couple times since they opened next to Busch's market - finally stopped in. They are a nice, local place for a quick breakfast and/or sandwich. Tried the meadowbrook rueben (that is how they spell it?) on rye and really enjoyed it. Also tried the white clam chowder and that was quite good. Staff was very friendly and helpful. Cool art work on the walls.
(4)Ryan P.
Really cool place! Walls are decorated with cool paintings. They play great oldies music. Got the breakfast burrito for a little bit less than what I would get in California. Burrito was stuffed with potatoes, veggies, turkey sausage, cheese, and eggs. It was perfectly cooked. Very friendly staff here! Will definitely come back and try more menu items. Really wish they had Tapatio hot sauce though. It would have gone great with my burrito. Other than that, great food.
(5)Emma S.
I'm gonna be honest, the hours this place is open is really inconvenient. I get out of school at 2:30, not leaving me much time to sit down and eat my meal. I literally only like the spinach quiche you can find in the case near the cash register. everything else is oily. i ain't hate too hard but they need to step up.
(3)Jenny T.
This place is perfect for an awesome breakfast! The staff are super friendly and the food is absolutely delicious. Loads of options to choose from, including vegetarian, and an assortment of teas. Highly recommend the egg white sandwich- it comes with goat cheese.... Foodgasmic
(5)Ani B.
doesn't look like much inside; seating is a premium at lunch time. wait in line to place an order, pay and wait for your food to be brought to you. took about 15 minutes on a thursday. friend said that was the longest it had ever taken. food is really great. cherry chicken salad sandwich on Italian was fantastic. i like flaked chicken so the ice cube size chunks of chicken were the only thing i would have changed. got the "greens" a tiny salad but they were good. friend got the Mediterranean sandwich, and it was grilled and had a tendency to fall apart. NO atmosphere at all, and crowded but still the food was great.
(4)Martha T.
I cannot say enough good things about the meal I had here. Fresh sliced bread for their sandwiches, lots of sides to choose from, and fast service. I had a turkey reuben and a side of grilled brussel sprouts. (I didn't even know I liked brussel sprouts until this meal). On a side note, I think I've tried a turkey reuben at every restaurant around. They are my absolute favorite. But I have to say that half day cafe's was hands down the best I've had in a long time. Highly recommend this place for lunch! Or breakfast, they had many breakfast menu options as well which I'm sure would be divine too. Grab a molasses cookie while you're there, you won't be sorry. Happy girl!
(5)Amy B.
My mom and I came here for Breakfast this morning after moving all day yesterday. She heard about it before, and I've driven by it a few times, so we swung in to get a bite to eat. I wasn't sure what to expect, but my mom and I loved it! It's a fast casual place, where you place your order at the counter, and they walk it out to you. They have plenty of delicious options for breakfast and lunch, and we had a hard time choosing. After studying the menu, on the recommendation of the girl behind the counter, we went with the breakfast extravaganza, which was delicious! I substituted the pork with a cup of fruit, and it was enough for my mom and I to split. My mom enjoyed her breakfast as well, and the staff was really friendly. I really enjoyed it here, and would gladly come back for breakfast or lunch anytime. Prices are extremely reasonable, the food is awesome and fresh, and the staff is friendly and helpful. If your in the area, swing by. The food is worth it!
(4)Raphie B.
I had a really tasty vegetarian wrap here. It had roasted vegetables (broccoli, asparagus, squash, etc), feta cheese, and avocado, if I remember right. It was really, really tasty. The roasted vegetables were incredibly tasty and fresh and added some serious oomph to a somewhat basic wrap style sandwich. I tried to go back this morning to try the roasted vegetable omelette, but alas, they are closed on Sundays.
(4)M D.
Although in the area frequently (Trader Joes), this was our first time here. What a pleasant surprise! Generous portions, plenty of GF options. Colorful art work on walls. Very fast service. And Listerine to swish with (in bathroom).
(5)Alexandra M.
I've given this place three chances because I've read the reviews and they seem positive but I will never eat here again. The service is so lazy and rude. Not just once but three times. If you're in the mood for overpriced food and crap service this your place.
(1)Andrew S.
Stopped in for breakfast and the food is awesome. Got the bmaa omelette and It was delicious. The hash browns were top tier and the toast options are pretty diverse (I had marbled rye). The staff was extremely friendly and helpful. This is my breakfast/ sandwich stop from now on in the area.
(4)Victoria W.
Quite disappointed with Half Day Cafe after a lunch visit today. We live very close by and I used to visit frequently for lunch with my kids. Always had a great kids menu with great prices. My girls love their PB&J sandwiches which used to feature a thick layer of peanut butter. For $2.99 with a drink and a side it was a good deal. Came for lunch today after not being back for a few months and the kids meals have jumped to $5 and no longer come with a drink or a side. Come on Half Day! Getting a little greedy, are we??! $5 for a PB&J sandwich that had about a teaspoon of actual peanut butter with no side and no drink. Seriously?? Give me a break. We won't be coming back. And don't get me started on their overpriced catering menu. Oh my word! Catered from Half Day for Mother's Day and long story short, I was not impressed with the quantity or quality of food.
(2)Shannon C.
I love Half Day Cafe. What a gem. It's my favorite place to stop in for a sandwich. It's totally unique and has the friendliest employees who create the most satisfying salads, sandwiches and soups. Their breakfast options are great, too. Next time you're on your way to Panera, consider trying this out instead.
(5)Kara D.
YUM! The breakfast here is awesome. Everyone in my group ordered a variation of eggs - omelettes, scrambled, and over-hard. They were all cooked perfectly, as were the potatoes served with. Better yet is the homemade toast! Definitely try the cinnamon raisin. The little basket of baked goods that you receive upon ordering is a nice touch. Their coffee is also very good. A friend of mine says that their pancakes (particularly the strawberry) are the best she's ever had at a restaurant, so they're next on my list!
(5)Neely G.
Amazing breakfast and lunch. Quick, friendly, tons of healthy and delicious options. The house salad and cinnamon swirl bread were my highlights !
(4)Rob E.
This place is awesome. The previous attempts at this spot never fared well, but these guys have it down to a science. Just make good food. That's it. They bake their own bread and other pastries. Sandwiches are always very tasty and hold up well. Omelets are great, soup is superbly made in house, and my preschooler loves the toys they have. It is only a breakfast and lunch spot so don't delay. Not much around this place is a non-chain restaurant, especially for breakfast. It is tucked in between Trader Joe's and Busch's, go for the jugular and hit this place up.
(5)J B.
I loved this place when it was Pic-a-deli. Always great sandwiches. The Golf Club is still on the menu but now, sadly, a smaller sandwich. Prices have increased as well. Food overall is very good, but pricing is a bit over-the-top for some items.
(3)J T.
What a nice surprise! I didn't even know this place was hiding in the corner of a strip mall I frequent. Thanks to my fellow Yelpers for the recommendation :-) Several friends and I were meeting for our regular lunch date and suggested that we try something new. As other reviewers wrote, the inside is much nicer than you would expect from the small door and window you see from the parking lot. It is cafeteria style, so you order from the counter then grab your drinks and sit down with your number while the staff preps the food and delivers it to the table. Everyone behind the counter was super nice and very helpful when we asked about various food items and how they were prepared. They have a great selection of sandwiches, soups, and salads so there is something for everyone. We even took some awesome house made brownies home for later. Our food was brought out quickly and everything we ordered was fresh and tasty! The dining area was clean and there was someone roaming and cleaning throughout the very busy lunch period. We all immediately said we will definitely be back!
(4)Emily M.
The food is good especially the salads but the service is sooooooo slow. The staff doesn't even acknowledge you when you are standing there waiting to order.
(4)Jodi W.
Love this restaurant! The Hawthorne is my "go to" on homemade rye bread and their soups are amazing. I wish they were open on Sundays!
(5)Faithy M.
This is a true treasure, tucked into the corner of this strip mall that also has another of my FAVorite places... Trader Joes Market! Chris , the owner even sliced my fresh rye bread, which was wonderful. Very creative menu, fabulous home made soup (4 choices each day) Huge serving of home made bread pudding ( Chris uses the day old muffins) with raspberry sauce for only $1.99!!! Nummy The staff is very competent and friendly. The local art work on the walls is a very nice touch, too! Your sandwich is made to order.... So you can have it your way .... & oh, so FRESH! I must try the breakfast, next time I am in this 'Hood!
(5)J M.
Great local breakfast/lunch spot. Daily homemade breads, soups, sandwiches, salads, baked goods. Cute little spot by Ace Hardware in corner of shopping center. Hidden gem that's probably often overlooked for less tasty chains nearby. Very fresh and local with great variety. Worth trying their house made tuna salad, egg salad, quiches, and soups. You'll be back for sure.
(3)Mansoor S.
I've been here a couple of times for breakfast with family. As someone with a pescatarian diet when eating out, I really like this place, but it's especially good for my pescatarian wife with celiac disease. She LOVED the gluten free quesadilla bread and the filling wasn't bad. My egg white sandwich was great and the spinach quiche was awesome. The eggchilada without chili wasn't bad, but not as good as the earlier choices. Staff members were nice when dealing with my long and complicated phone order at a busy time of day. We'll definitely be back!
(4)Arthur H.
My wife had heard very good things about this place and I have to say that the recommendations are worth it. We visited on a late Saturday morning and the place was busy, but not overly so. With that, we were able to talk to the ladies behind the counter to get a feel for the place. It is a bit quirky, so a few hints are in order. First, when you walk in, you might be a bit confused. On the left side, you will find a counter behind which the staff are preparing the meals. You might be tempted to go to your seat, but it is a place where you place your order, pay, then go sit down. It is not a service-based restaurant (waitress/waiter service). The menu is a huge sign on the wall above the counter on the left, and displays all the options for breakfast, salads, and sandwiches you can get. They also have a nice selection of bakery items including pastries and breads. So, go to your left upon entering and figure out what to order. I had the Thai omelet, while my wife had the banana pancakes (more a bit later). Once you order and have your number on a little sign, you move down the line and choose your beverage - and don't forget to pick out your mug for coffee! Then, at the end of the line is the cash register where you will pay for your meal. It is a bit confusing, as I wasn't expecting this style of ordering, but once you figure out how it works, it is very easy to manage. The coffee station is back near the entrance, and they have several different varieties of coffee flavors, including regular and decaf. I had the cinnamon hazelnut, which was very nice. The food is brought out to you pretty quickly. I have to say that my omelet was very unusual in that it includes grilled chicken, carrots, red peppers, broccoli, onions and peanut sauce. It was very delicious and fairly priced at $6.95. It also included roasted potatoes and homemade toast (variety of options considering they make several varieties of breads). My wife's banana pancakes were very good, with banana slices on top of the pancakes, and are served with one meat side. The venue also has very neat wall art, which is for sale, that decorates the place well. The staff could keep the place a tiny bit cleaner, but I am sure we came in after the morning rush. It was not dirty by any means, but you could tell they get a great deal of traffic. My wife characterized the place as a hometown Panera, which I would generally agree with. However, their breakfast choices are much nicer than what they have! All in all, a very good experience and we will definitely come back.
(5)Whitney L.
Yum! Great food! Lot's of awesome choices. It's only open for breakfast/lunch. You can get meals, or sides, or mix and match. It's a really unique experience. They have a ton of great breads to choose from (makes getting a side of toast very fun!). Great vegetarian options as well.
(4)Rich B.
Ok, after all the great reviews, decided to give it a try. I was not disappointed. The decor when you walk in is very nice, the place is very clean, both positives. The menu is pretty large, so we decided on blueberry french toast a waffle and a breakfast sandwich. To me the star was the french toast, cut fresh to order, then grilled, great flavor ! the other items were good as well. While eating I was looking at the rest of the menu, looks like lots of interesting choices, which makes it a place I will have to return.
(4)Scott C.
I found this place because of Yelp, so thank you Yelpers. What a find! The owners are about as nice as they come. You order up at the counter and then they bring the food to you. Everything they use is fresh, including the bread that they bake themselves. My omelet was excellent and I really enjoyed the large booths and decor of the restaurant. Coffee is self serve, and it was good coffee. You feel like you've discovered a true non-franchise treasure when you eat at the Half Day Cafe. I don't live close to here, but I've bookmarked it for my trips to the east side of Michigan. This is my newly designated favorite breakfast place in this area of Michigan!
(5)K L.
My go-to place for breakfast and lunch. Fresh and delicious food, friendly staff, imaginative menu. The Reuben sandwich was divine today. I'm already craving another!
(5)Kat H.
I think this place has a really super menu (I stole one to use for ideas at home:) ), but the two times I've eaten here, have been less than 5-star. The place does have redeeming qualities, however. I loved the vegetarian reuben in theory, but in practice it was pretty soggy. The flavor was good, but the (grilled) bread tore when I tried to pick it up. Oh well, it came with a side of pasta salad that I wasn't expecting! And, seriously, props on the idea. I really miss reubens as a vegetarian. The roasted vegetable salad was kind of a let down. It's a TON of romaine lettuce with a little bit of the roasted veggies and cheese. More veggies and about half the romaine would make it so so much better. It is pretty swell that you get pita with your salads... Overall, although I was somewhat underwhelmed by the two meals that I had, I would definitely return here because I think they can do a lot better. They certainly have a great menu. And I always always appreciate places that have tasty, creative vegetarian options.
(4)F T.
Everything about this place is absolutely fantastic....the food, service, and prices are A+. Great menu with lots of choices. Breakfast is great and the sandwiches are huge. The only negative is they are closed on Sunday!!
(5)Brian N.
Been here 5-10 times. It's my favorite breakfast and lunch (sandwich place) cafe. All breakfasts have been great. I've had the standard breakfast fare as well as a burrito, also a egg white sandwich. For lunch I've had a bunch of sandwiches, they are huge and they have bread made in house. Love the sour dough.
(5)Kevin J.
Delicious breakfast. Fast and priced right. I had the ham and cheese omelette. It came with seasoned redskin potatoes and extra thick slices of homemade toast. All under $7. I'll be back.
(5)Matt S.
Best breakfast and lunch place you could go to. Homemade bread, homemade soup, homemade pastries, homemade everything.
(5)Sandy F.
I love this place for breakfast and lunch. Very tasty and economical. Lots of choices and everything tastes so fresh. We also had them cater my son's graduation party. Highly recommend them as an option for that. So many people remarked they were so glad to get something different than 'boring grad party chicken and mostaccioli". What's more-- Chris the owner is very helpful. We had a couple of minor things happen and Chris was right on it to fix them. It's unrealistic to expect a perfect performance. It's impressive to have great service recovery when something goes wrong, and that's what Chris provided.
(4)Amanda W.
I'm not sure how I've missed this place all these years. Meeting a friend, I checked Yelp for a new breakfast place. This place is awesome! Cool art on the walls, awesome coffee and a great menu. I had the Thai chicken omelette and was a little leery. I mean broccoli and peanut sauce in eggs just sounded a bit risky. But, it totally works! Thin sliced chicken, bell pepper and provolone rounded it out. The portions were generous and the prices fair. They have a small display with baked goods for sale that looked great. I can't wait to come back here.
(5)