Cardinal Coffee Shop & Lounge

Never been here sober, but what I remember is that it was the only late-​night sit-​down joint where I could eat their burgers and not get sick. The burgers were probably even good enough to eat sober, and during the day. Service was always cool too.

Cardinal’s we miss you!
Please re-​open! You were one of the few 24 hours establishments around. I much rather have Cardinal’s over Denny’s any day (or night)!
And your Monte Cristo was amazing!

Closed!!! booooooo!
I’ve only been here twice for breakfast but loved it. I love down home greasy spoon type food and the Cardinal was right on point. What a bummer!
Anyone know a similar place?

Til this day I still can’t figure out why I still come here. The roast beef sandwich is pretty good. Not too big on other food here considering it’s a Denny’s or flames throw back kinda place but waaaaay over priced. The staff seems to get worse and worse every time we venture in here. The bar um it’s scary went in there once about 8 years ago if your into the crypt keeper looking people then by all means get your groove on there. There is nothing in my mind that stands out about this place which is probably the reason I lose my mind on occasion and come back. Must be a glutton for punishment.
The last time we came here was last Sunday my friends wanted to come at 2 am. I had been at a karaōke bar prior getting my drink on so the alcohol must have made me agree to come here. I had the roast beef, the waitress who thinks she is 25 looks about 105 was slow as hell and it was not even busy. I asked for very little mayo and she could not remember if I wanted mayo and mustard. I was like um mustard? Never said a word about that but ok. They don’t refill your water unless you ask a hundred times so if your thirsty your pretty much SOL. The over priced deserts can’t say anything cuz I didn’t order one but my friends got a banana split and OMG you better share it with a couple of people.
Wish I had something better to say about this cheesy, updated place but I don’t sorry :)

I stumbled in here at 3am, because apparently to some people, the night was still young. I felt like I was being tortured to stay up since all I wanted to do was sleep. At the hour we came in, they had a good amount of people at the tables. I guess «home» was the last thing on these people’s minds.
After a lot of fussing, negotiating and whining… I decided to order the «fisherman’s omelet» which consisted of crab, scallops, and shrimp. It’s served with hash browns or home fried potatoes, and toast with butter or jam. I picked the hash browns which were whatever tasting but the toast was nice, warm and buttery. The fisherman’s omelet was surprisingly good, and it’s big enough to share. My whole order was only $ 11.50. What a deal.
They offer a huge menu so if on another day when I’m not kidnapped, I would actually come back… on my own will.

The Cardinal was one of my partner’s favorite teenage hangouts growing up, and I finally got a chance to check it out while we were with the family for the day and too jet-​lagged from getting back from the East Coast to do much else. Freakishly, when we went in I immediately had some deja vu. It turns out a friend took me here very early in the morning right after I moved to San Jose 3 ½ years ago, and I just didn’t remember the name of the place. The bright red booths and tables are pretty unforgettable, though, and I recognized it instantly!
I ultimately thought this was a pretty average diner experience. Most of the food was massive, greasy, and of the huge portions variety. I felt sick for hours after we shared an oreo sundae, but it was worth it! The server was very sweet, but service was slooooooow (something I recall about my earlier visit as well), and we had to wait a long time for food. I also couldn’t manage to get anyone to refill my water for the entire meal.
From my times eating here I don’t think I’d choose Cardinal over an actual restaurant, but I’d definitely come back late at night (they’re open ²⁴⁄₇) or in a morning hangover-​type mood.

While I’m in a Unilocaling mood and have some time on my hands, I’ll throw The Cardinal a bone.
I LOVE The Cardinal! I’ve been coming to The Cardinal for a looooong time and it’s consistently fantastic. The atmosphere is something you’ll never find anywhere else… A lot of the staff has been there for YEARS.
First things first… you don’t go to The Cardinal for a sandwich or a steak. It’s a huge coffee shop… you go for breakfast. Yes, even at 3am. Their regular lunch and dinner fare is nothing special, but the breakfast… ooohhh the breakfast. Sit down and snag yourself a Monte Cristo… or one of their massive omelets. The hash browns are perfect. Even the bacon and eggs comes out awesome. And the portions are HUGE!
Denny’s? No thanks. I’ll stick to the 24-​hour blast from the past that always delivers happiness on a plate… Thanks Cardinal ;)

Typical three star diner experience for me. I went for the chef’s salad, which was basically a big bowl of iceberg lettuce, a few tomato wedges, a few slices of cucumber, and then a stack of turkey, ham, and two cheeses from a sandwich sliced on top of the salad. A whole hard boiled egg (which was completely mangled while peeling) was also on the salad. It was a bit weak for an entrée salad.
Other folks clearly ordered better. The grilled cheese, for example, is a FOUR LAYER sandwich. Insane. Jambalaya was also enjoyed by someone else at my table.
Three of the dinners came with dessert, so we shared a ton of ice cream after our meal.
Overall, it’s A-​OK. I prefer other diners in the area, but wouldn’t object if we were heading back this way again.

«What we gonna do is go back… waay back… back into time!»
…Vegas style!
Hours, lighting, mirrors, music, smell, bright red booths, sinking benches, and the hit or miss service reminds me so much of an OLD coffee shop in Downtown Las Vegas.
Breakfast was decent.
The lasagna and chili cheese fries were nothing special… I’ve had better!
Their humongous desserts make me jump out of my seat (unless the springs pop out of the bench first). Their banana split was spectacular in sight and taste!

Came here for a late date night to get stuff to munch on.
The décor inside is classic diner with lots of red everywhere. But there’s a built in bar/​lounge you can hear music coming from everyday.
Me and my boy went for something totally unhealthy… onion rings and a banana split sundae. =D The onion rings were crunchy but definitely lacked salt. We had to sprinkle salt all over them. The banana split sundae was HUGE. It came with three massive scoops of ice cream with TONS of whipped cream and strawberry, chocolate and caramel syrup. Totally heart clogging. But the best part was the strawberry ice cream and banana.
This is only a good place to go if you’re hungry late at night. A nice alternative to Denny’s, but I don’t think I would come here during the day.
huge ice cream sundae, good oversized onion rings, same guy with no personality, bar with music inside

I wanted to find another 24 hour type place or somewhere that was open late that was NOT Denny’s since Denny’s food was sometimes so unbearable that I lost appetite just thinking about it … but I was surprised to find such a place existed in the Cardinal Coffee Shop & Lounge and promptly made my way over.
Surprisingly, this place was exactly how many people had described … sort of like an 80’s Vegas in San Jose except with better lighting and definitely reminded me of the Peppermill in Las Vegas except I thought the Peppermill had significantly better food. I really wanted to give this place 2 stars but then I thought if this and Denny’s were the only two places open at 3:00 AM, which would I visit and Cardinal came out on top so I am giving it an extra star for the effort of being open … well … all the time.
The food here is American, average, breakfast all the time, greasy and exactly what you would expect. Their drinks though, are great since this is a lounge and they do have a full bar. The peach fuzz is delicious and I guess if I were out of options for bars at 3:00 AM on any given night this would be a go-​to spot. The staff is nice and the food is prompt and on a week night you might barely find one other soul there but for the most part it’s another 24-​hour choice!

This place’s service is absoloutely horrible. I was /​am here for new years. The manager and the staff were complete d*cks. Not just to me but EVERYONE.
The worst service ie ever had. In. My. Life.
I understand it sucks to work on holidays, I work on an ambulance and it comes with the territory but there’s something to be said about professionalism.
.01 cent tip. Thanks, a-​holes.

Okay, I don’t know what I was expecting. I was here as a child for the breakfast hence the fourth star.
The other three are basic donations.
One an Irish Coffee needs to have Coffee in it and not all old whiskey. Maybe I am lightweight but hey it was a busy night and I did go to the bar but I could hear myself think.
Another the Brownie decadence should have brownie in it. More than ice cream which was good but the Brownie should be equal to the ice cream and whipped cream.
I had to order another coffee and I ran out of water which I desperately needed from the crappy Irish Coffee. I now know to order a Baileys Coffee and for a table away from the kitchen not in the corner next to the busyboy station.
Bathrooms are questionable death traps and if there is going to be a zombie attack in a bathroom it will be here first.

OMFG. You got to be kidding me. This place DOES exist! I am scared. Hold me.
After a night of semi-​fun, the girls suggested the Cardinal for some late-​night eats. Of course, we also did a cameo appearance at the lounge next door where everything and everyone looked like extras from Reno 911. AWESOME.
Sat down at the cherry-​red vinyl sparkly booth and ordered the chili verde omelet ($ 11.95) with a single pancake ($ 1.75).
The omelet tasted DECENT with the pork and I liked the accompanied hash brown. As for the pancake, it’s a pancake, nothing special but great with the table syrup.
Service was prompt and efficient. I love the Where’s Wally red striped uniforms. So AWESOME.
Like I said, I can’t believe this place exists. I am still scared.
RECOMMEND if you can’t find a nearby Denny’s.

Hey screw dennys!!! I wasn’t drunk when I got here but I was when I left! All It was missing from being a spot in vegas was a slot machine, but I guess you can bring cards and play thirteen…
The bartender didn’t think my I. D was real, but it was probly my Darth Vader Revenge tee that threw her off. The dj threw on some t pain for us and some guy shooed me away from dancing buy his stuff. How do I know he put the teddy pain on for me and my matez? Song changed right when we walked out.
Wouldve gave 4 stars cus my cheese omelet was too cheezy, but this place needs its dues.
F U DENNY’S, IT’S OVER. No more late night drunken booty calls for u

At 3am this place is totally entertaining and practically prescriptive.
So while my memories of the menu are admittedly fuzzy, I will say it is, hands down, my favorite place in San Jose to sober up and stave off a hangover with completely indulgent comfort food. They have banana milkshakes to rival Falafal Drive-​in (Only these ones come with one of those giant silver spill-​over cups.), and killer grilled cheese.
Also, there’s always some server who looks like a transplant from a Reno casino. Awesome. …Iiiiiiin fact, the entire place– from mirrors to plastic red booths, is a bit reminiscent of a Reno Casino restaurant.
And at 3am, it’s a scene. Hilarious people watching, the occasional fight, inadvertent high school reunions and tasty sober-​up snacks.
(Robert C called it… 100% Peppermill throw back! Hahahaha, I agree!)

Like in my favorite show «Pushing Daisies,» the facts are these:
It’s open 24hours.
I had this joint bookmarked for ever.
Breakfast galore. Seriously, come here for breakfast, breakfast, and more breakfast-​even if at 2AM.
The staff is awesome.
The food is greasy and great for an «after a workout» or a drunken night meal.
Yes, you may be seated to an old fart, but chance are they are cool. If not, ask your server to crank up the volume on Rhianna till they are gone.
Enjoy your heart clogging food, and it’s best to share… so bring a friend!

It’s «old» but efficient.
Came by here on a whim after breaking a sweat in a Zumba class on a Saturday morning. I’ve been here before but can’t recall my food or service so I thought I’d give it a try. We both wanted the same things so we decided to share the following:
El Paso Plate — Eggs, Corned Beef n Hash, Bell peppers and Cheese on top of your choice of potatoes (we opted for hash browns)
**This was out-​of-​this-​world! I know… it was loaded with oil, cholesterol & fat but it sure tasted yummy in my tummy!
Banana Walnut Pancakes — fresh bananas and walnuts… really tasted clean. A tad bit on the dry side but still really good. To my surprise neither of us put butter or syrup on our pancakes. We’re like twins! ha ha
Thanks to Flor for asking me on the last minute breakfast date. The food was REALLY good, the décor was suitable for our zaniness, the service was great (our lady was sassy and tentative) and the company was fun as always! I am intrigued by the fact that this place is open ²⁴⁄₇. I’m now looking forward to being up über late/​early to go see what it’s like in the wee hours of the morning. Probably just as packed.
Note that along with the time warp atmosphere we heard some fun music overhead, as well. (Beyonce, etc.) Our waitress said that some people complain about it (i.e. the older folks.) They can always go to Coco’s or Denny’s, right?

I would never eat here during the day, but I’ve had some great times here in the middle of the night. In an area where your late night options are McDonalds, Jack in the Box, and Denny’s, any deviation from the deep fried consumerism is greatly welcome.
Cardinals is open 24 hours and located in the middle of San Jose. I spent many a night getting lost with friends trying to find this place. It’s kind of like a process. You bond while you’re trying to find the place and when you get there, you’re very happy that you’re here and you can slide into the sparkley red vinyl booths and peruse their menu.
Their menu is very similar to Denny’s with a cross of Mini Gourmet flair. The interior is much nicer than the afformentioned and the prices are a bit higher in comparison. They offer a lot of Greek dishes here and I’ve gotten to sample a bunch of random things that I have no idea what they are. There’s also the traditional breakfast food like pancakes, hash browns, eggs, etc. I like it better than Denny’s and Mini Gourmet, it seems to be made better and it’s fresh. They also have lunch and dinner options too.
Service isn’t too bad for the time of night it is, and there isn’t as much shady ghetto stuff going on. Most of the people who hang out here are generally chill.
I’ve spent a few hours hackey sacking it with random people outside of their front door. It was kind of cool to watch and experience as a few guys had a hackey sack and would invite people to join their circle, so as people entered and exited, they would hang out here and play a few rounds and then go on with their lives.
Also the SJPD hang out here a lot too, so the fear of getting randomly jumped and shanked lessens as you watch the police wander in a group in their never-​ending quest for food.
Yes, I do a lot of random things.

This place is a spectacular neon display with reasonably good diner food.
Not alot of places in the area are open late, and this one is 24 hours. If I get back from a trip and need real food, (not fast food, I don’t eat that crap) this is a place I can count on. Also, if I have friends or family coming in late and they want something hot, this is where I take them.
It’s nothing fancy, it’s diner food. I can find a reasonably healthy piece of fish, or a sandwich no matter how late it is.
They also have huge desserts, I had one once, and it was pretty good.
There’s also a bar next door where all the aging divorcees hunt, it’s quite entertaining… Good people watching ;)