Cafe 21 University Heights

FIRST CHOICE FOR BREAKFAST ! Whenever my wife and I are staying overnight down in San Diego this colorful eclectic cafe is our first choice for a delicious breakfast. AND IT WAS SO ! We were booked into a Marriott hotel over the weekend. First thing Saturday morning we zipped over here and walked inside just after 8am. We were pretty much the first cab off the rank. Jason and Ana behind the bar gave us a big welcome....sadly one of our fav servers Thomas has moved to Oregon. Ana the barista / server whipped us up a couple of delicious Lattes...mine had Frangelico Liqueur. FOOD ! My wife ordered a Short Rib Omelet ( egg, bell pepper, caramelized onion, blue cheese, sourdough ) and the Potato Galette ( with ajika spicy spread ). I had my tastebuds set on the Short Rib Crepe Cake ( short rib, caramelized onion spread, mushroom bourbon sauce, pickled onion, arugula, carrot, greens ). Our elegant looking lattes tasted totally fabulous. A few people started trickling in while we waited for our breakfast order. AND THEN ! Ana whizzed out with our dishes. My wife loved her short rib omelet...lots of flavor. My short rib crepe cake tasted even better than it sounded...delicately decadent. We shared the sensational potato galette which tasted really really good. WHY NOT ! Another delicious latte loaded with Frangelico Liqueur couldn't possibly hurt me. WHAT A SPECIAL TREAT !NOTE - Of course with 20 million views of my Yelp reviews and pics world wide in 2023 I can tell you what is great !

Came across this place with a few friends for brunch. They offer some tasty drinks and food. My Highlight/ what you must try is their potato pancake- so bomb! And their strawberry crepes are full of sweetness- so yummy! Service was nice. Parking: small parking lot/ street parking available.

Tried something different for breakfast, and this place delivered! So flavorful, strong Peruvian coffee, cute decor inside and on their patio. The spot is kind of hidden in a corner beside a liquor store, but definitely has a small mom and pop feel. 2 locals apparently come every morning with their cute dogs, LOVE!!Portions were just enough, and left us full and didn't give us the 'itis'. Would mos definitely c9me back again! Great Mediterranean flavors for brekkie!!

Brunch spot with great ambiance and l very nicely decorated. Plenty of outdoor patio seating. The dishes are brunch tapas style and incorporate flavors from Azerbaijan. Definitely a unique gem! Service is also quick! Plenty of street parking and there is also a small lot

Our visit to Cafe 21 in University Heights was a delightful experience from start to finish. We were greeted by our server and seated quickly, setting a positive tone for the meal.We started with their Bloody Marys, which were impressively topped with a variety of garnishes. Mine came with a grilled cheese sandwich, while my friend's was topped with prosciutto. These creative and generous toppings made for a fun and flavorful drink.For our main course, we both ordered the chicken sandwiches with avocados. They were incredibly fulfilling and tasted great. The combination of flavors and the quality of ingredients made this dish a standout.Overall, Cafe 21 provided a wonderful dining experience with excellent service, unique drinks, and delicious food.

Nice brunch spot that has friendly service and good food. Drinks are done well and really enjoyed the Watermelon and Espresso Martini. The Roasted Eggplant Crumpet was yummy with an egg on top. The Tiramisu Pancakes could have been a bit more decadent, but the aromatics were all there. For the Short Rib Omelette, enjoyed the portion of it and was plated in a cute skillet. Overall, a cozy and relaxed place!

Cafe21 offers a truly unparalleled culinary adventure in San Diego! This restaurant boasts a remarkable array of unique dishes crafted with a creative flair that delights both the palate and the eye. In my opinion, the chef here is a true culinary wizard.During a Friday lunch visit with a large party, we were treated to exceptional customer service, with attentive staff offering fantastic recommendations. The menu primarily features small plates, but the portions are so satisfying that you'll leave feeling wonderfully full. Among the things I tried here were the Mediterranean rice with lamb, tiramisu pancakes, and delightful strawberry crepes with mascarpone creme. The lamb rice was very tender, flavorful and melts in your mouth. The crepes are heavenly and tiramisu pancakes - can't go wrong with that! Additionally, the menu showcases an extensive selection of coffees, some with innovative twists like dried fruits and spices.Cafe21 is a cherished family-run establishment that continues to thrive thanks to its dedicated team, committed to ensuring every visit is a memorable one.Believe me when I say, you simply must experience Cafe21 for yourself!

My fiancé and I visited this charming spot for a late brunch on a Saturday afternoon and were able to get seated right away. The ambiance on the patio was delightful, with a rustic charm and abundant greenery that created a cozy, inviting atmosphere.We each started with a beautifully crafted coffee (1 Peas of Mind and 1 Cappuccino). The menu featured an array of small plates, ideal for sharing. With it being just the two of us, we each ordered our own dish (1 Tomato + Egg and 1 Short Rib Omelette) and found the dishes provided more than enough to satisfy our appetites. The quality and presentation of the food were impressive, leaving us eager to return with a larger group to try even more of their delectable dishes. This place is a true gem and perfect for both intimate meals and social gatherings!

The staff here is super friendly! I did not catch our waiters name but he was extremely attentive and kept giving us recommendations. Waiting to get sat was a little awkward though. A line developed while everyone waited for a hostess to show up. Other waiters would walk by and not acknowledge anyone at the entrance. We stood around for about 10 minutes before the hostess finally showed up to take names down. Luckily the wait wasn't long after that. The food here is great, just be aware that portions are very small. All sides must be purchased separately.I ordered an iced vanilla latte with coconut milk, which I would not order again as is. I'd rate it around a 4/10. It was presented beautifully, but it tasted off. It could be the coconut milk, I'd try it next time with regular milk. For my entree I ordered the chicken pesto sandwich with a side of the potato pancakes and they were both outstanding. The sandwiches are probably the best food to dollar ratio. The rest of the table regretted not getting a sandwich when they saw how small their portions were, as it was a sizable sandwich cut in half. The potato pancake was just one single pancake with a side of salsa. The salsa alone was 10/10. I even dipped my sandwich in it. I'm coming back just for the potato pancakes and that salsa. I'd rate the sandwich a 7/10 and the potato pancakes a 9/10. The restaurant itself is really cute. A majority of the tables were outdoors in a covered patio. Unfortunately there's some gaps between the weatherproofing covering the patio, and with the rain today we would get pretty wet when a strong gust of wind came through. I do hope they could fix that, as it made the overall experience less enjoyable. They were super busy and it's not like they had room to move us to another table, so we stayed where we were. I'd love to come back on a nice sunny day. It seems like the perfect spot for a late morning date or a boozy brunch with friends!

Came here after church a few Sundays ago. The wait time was over an hour but definitely worth the wait. The food was delicious! Perfect sharing sizes. We got the hummus platter as an appetizer. Our waiter was super nice and funny. He kept our glasses full and recommended his favorites which are our favorites now too!