The Carlisle Cafe

Planning a day trip to Niagara Falls meant looking for a breakfast spot along the way for my group of 4. After reading through the reviews on Unilocal,we decided to go for Carlisle Café in St. Catherines.
We found parking around the back and to our delight, it was free on Sundays!
The restaurant is quaint and cozy with big windows that open out to the sidewalk. We were happy to find that there was no wait to sit down and there were only one or two other tables occupied.
Our server was pleasant while listing off the specials for the morning. I was excited to see the Sunday brunch menu was full of delicious breakfast options. Have I mentioned breakfast is my favourite meal of the day?! But when I saw the potato skillet option had potato pancakes, my decision was already made.
This was not your typical potato pancake. It was thick like a hockey puck with a scrumptious crunchy outer edge. Then to top it off, they throw cheese and bacon on it. It was THE best potato pancake I have ever eaten!
I also had a chance to sample the savoury pancakes, and while still tasty, they didn’t hold up to the potato skillet.
The only reason I didn’t give The Carlisle Café it’s 5 stars was because their website shows an image of a delicious latte, however when I asked if they served lattes or mochas, they only had drip coffee available. A mocha would have been the perfect addition to my breakfast.
If you happen to be in the St. Catherines area, make sure to drop by for breakfast.
You will not be disappointed!
–Ashley Marie

Hidden gem. Everything I’ve had here has been fantastic. Highlights: Carlisle fries and Carlisle veggie bugger.
Soups are always inventive and salads super fresh.
Can’t say enough about the owner’s dedication to quality!

Perfect place! Went for breakfast the food was fresh, fast service! Friendly owners. Not expensive great décor. Must come back! You can park on the street for $ 2!
The owner gave us advise for activities. We just loved it!

Found this little gem via Unilocal (which has always been on point)! Great food (yummy pancakes), great service (Meagan), great location & super friendly owners! We were a group of 8, looking for a hot meal in between races (Royal Henley eh) and this little café provided us with an all around great experience! Each of us ordered different plates and everyone was happy! Prices are very fair too! It’s a winner!

My boyfriend and I were staying in the same building as this restaurant for the weekend and initially just decided to visit for the convenience. The breakfast was so great that we returned the very next morning. It’s a small but comfy atmosphere, the servers are friendly, and the prices are reasonable for breakfast. I would recommend it and would return if I’m ever in the area again.

Friendly staff, delicious food, live music. I got the stuffed french toast… Mouth watering. Stayed in st. Catherine’s overnight on our way to niagara falls and so glad we stopped here for brunch!

My boyfriend and I came in for breakfast. It’s a small place. They had live band playing on the weekend which made the ambience more inviting. The service was okay. Our server gave us a cup of coffee and the cups seemed to be dirty. I ordered a hot chocolate and she came with the hot chocolate overflowing. the food was good! I got the egg Benedict with parmeal ham instead of bacon. And classic breakfast for my boyfriend.
I think the cook may be the owner of the restaurant since they were not wearing uniforms. They cooked and prepared the food with no gloves on or hairnet which I think unsanitary.
Overall it was good! We’ll come back again whenever we’re in the area.

This was my first time in downtown St. Catharine’s, and we decided to give this a shot based on other Unilocal reviews.
It is quite excellent! It is very tiny and cozy, but the food is good and the service is very friendly. We both had Eggs Benedict of varying types (me: smoked salmon special, him peameal bacon.) Both were very tasty, although I think in general I don’t think I’d have a smoked salmon Benedict again. This is totally not their fault, it’s just a strange combination to me.
Anyhow, if you find yourself in this somewhat quiet downtown looking for a Sunday brunch, this is a good place to go.

A friend and I wandered into this place while killing time in St Catharines (on a Sunday… when everything was closed… EVERYTHING), and we had a great breakfast. The server was extremely friendly and the service was fast, the food was great and the coffee was good too. I would definitely return here if I’m ever killing time in St Catharines again, which for the love of God I hope never happens.
No offense, St Catharines.
Great job though, this café.

One of the best Eggs Benedict I have had in a while… my server was really welcoming and the owner in fact sat with me to give me some suggestions on nearby places to see. All in all definitely recommended.