Cafe 67

★★★★☆ 4.3 (307)

"Along with an old school classic cafe/diner feel and ambiance, you get a friendly and warm atmosphere. Not to mention a generous portion of Americana.Serving breakfast and lunch, the menu is not overwhelming yet gives the patron a decent range of choices.I ordered bacon and eggs, hash browns, biscuit and a side of gravy. The eggs, fluffy and scrambled, offer a farm freshness while the hash browns crispy on the outside and cooked perfect on the inside. The bacon was crisp and cooked well and the biscuit airy and steaming hot. Pair all this with a cup of gravy and I call it a good breakfast that can hold me over till at least dinner.The service was fast and efficient, my meal arrived after order in less than 10 minutes, maybe more like 5. The restaurant is clean, including the restrooms, and tastefully decorated if you like retro. I am definitely coming back"

Smokey and the Brisket

★★★★☆ 4 (658) • $$

"Sorry Phil, Smokey is now my dude for SD BBQ. Yep, I've loved Phil's for a long time and I would often hit their Santee location at least once a month but Smokey has come in hot and stolen my loyalty. I now try to make it in for a few drinks and to work my way through their very eclectic menu that also sticks to the staples that all BBQ spots should offer. Some food highlights:- The short rib. This thing is powerful and worth every penny. I believe it clocks in at $30 dollars and it's tender, juicy, and truly delicious. I also believe that you can order the short rib for two with a price tag of $55. Bring a date, sucka! - The pizza. I know, I know, who orders pizza at a BBQ joint? I do, and I do so shamelessly. Is it on par with a pie that you'd find at a pizza specific place? No, but this certainly scratches an itch. - The pulled pork sandwich. Okay, let me hear it... "Brad, you basic b!tc#." Call me what you like, pulled pork is my jam especially when topped with some slaw. The staff here is so dope too. I've caught Nikki's name but don't believe I've ever introduced myself to the manager, just small talked her. She's awesome and if you play your cards correctly you may even land yourself a toasted marshmallow, torched right before your eyes. Smokey, you've done well and have earned my biz. See you soon!"

The Godfather Diner

★★★★★ 4.9 (43)

"This place has a fitting name. It's a family run business and it shows because they are definitely cooking from the heart. I had the machaca breakfast burrito, and let me tell you, their machaca is not like everyone else. It has a little read chile in it, as a result, it offer a red color similar to chorizo. At any rate, the burrito was not only large but packed with delicious flavors and textures. I loved it. The house prepared beef was abundant and tender. It was lightly seasoned but got most of its flavor, not only from the natural beef flavor, but from the red chile sauce cooked into the beef. It was delicious. The burrito also came with scrambled eggs and some onions. The only thing that I did not notice was the green peppers in the mix. The flour tortilla was very good too, and so were the house hot sauces that they offer. Service was very friendly and welcoming. They offer breakfast and lunch. They are closed on Mondays."

Tidal

★★★★☆ 3.8 (485) • $$$

"We tried this restaurant called "TIDAL". It wasn't our first time in this area of Paradise Point where Tidal is located, but it's our first time dining here at Tidal.We chose to be seated outdoors and they let us pick where to sit. The inside was beautiful too, but I like the view of their outdoor area more.I almost didn't want to order yet, just wanted to sit, relax, and enjoy the view and the nice breeze for a while :) But when our server came and handed us the Menu, that changed everything, I wanted their food already. There were so many good selections, so it was easy for us to pick our food. We ordered:*PARADISE MAI THAI *DUROC PORK CHOP *HAMACHI CRUDO *PACIFICO SEA-BASS *PAN-SEARED ICEFJORD SALMON *GERMAN CHOCOLATE CHEESECAKE My son's favorite was the PORK CHOP. He was excited to see how their pork chop here, and this place didn't disappoint him, my son likes it! The pork Chop was so thick, so Tender, and so flavorful, and it was not dry at all, it was cooked nicely! Our HAMACHI CRUDO was so fresh and delicious, that I will probably order 3 plates of those next time.My husband's PACIFICO SEABASS was good too, it was nicely cooked. I love wild mushroom risotto that came with it, I can really taste a lot of mushroom in their rice. For my SALMON, it was very tasty, I didn't need to add any salt or anything.My Drink was beautiful and so Fruity, I love it! Also, the German chocolate had a very rich chocolate and yet not overly sweet. We had such a Lovely Family time here, we are very satisfied with the View, the Food, and the Service. We can see ourselves here being regular from now on. Their Menu changes from time to time, so always check their menu before planning a visit. For Parking, there's a lot of it here. The Tidal restaurant is located at Paradise Point, so after eating here I recommend you take a walk around and find the beautiful Pond in their area, you will enjoy more of your visit here."

Corvette Diner

★★★★☆ 3.9 (2918) • $$

"Daisy was a great server. The whole place has a fun vibe to it! We loved the Oreo milkshake and the fried pickles!"

Brother's Family Restaurant

★★★★☆ 4.2 (421) • $$

"OK, where do I begin! This is my first time there and I've heard nothing but great things about this business and I was not blown away by the immediate service I received when I came in that directed to a table greeted quickly. Did I want something to drink Too ask if I had any questions on the menu. I told her it was my first time and I would need a little bit of time and she even offered to make recommendations. Should I need them. I decided on what I was going to order and the size of those plates with the amount of food was amazing And you know what's more amazing? I got three slices of bacon and I'm thick slices of bacon, I'm not talking that thin stuff that you like IHOP or Denny's. The environment was nice. The service was quick and I guarantee you I will be back so long to the other chain breakfast out there."

Beginner's Diner

★★★★☆ 4 (161)

"I loved the decor in the Lafayette hotel. They have the lobby bar plus a bar by the pool and the Gutter which is a bowling alley/bar plus a Mexican restaurant and a diner. I felt like you could go bar hopping without even leaving the hotel. I arrived at 630 pm on a Friday and could easily get a seat and table but by 730 it was packed in the lobby bar and by 8 it got packed in the Gutter so I suggest coming from 5-8 if you don't potentially want to wait for a seat.Also you have to go up to the bars to order drinks. They don't have servers. Also it took my friends 20 minutes to find parking since the Valet was full so I would highly suggest Ubering"

Izzy's Cafe

★★★★☆ 4.3 (468) • $$

"4.5 Last time I remember dining here was many years ago with my family. This time I was with my best friend and thought it would be nice to dine here. Upon entering you feel nostalgic with the memorabilia along the walls. It's always nice to check out those "mom and pops" type diners. Leslie was our server and she was so sweet and helpful. The locals here keep this diner nice and busy. As food orders passed us by to designated tables we were excited to see the outcome of our order. Lol Our food was delicious and plentiful. I enjoyed every bite. A nice and pleasant experience here. Will be back again."

Black Bear Diner - El Cajon

★★★★☆ 3.8 (1161) • $$

"Went with my Mom Dad And Sister for mother's day. Amazing serivce and food as always. Staff was professional polite and went above and beyond. Food we had the Bear paw chicken fired steak. And saland Broccoli and mashed potatoes.5 stars for all highly recommend going to Black Bear"

Saint James French Diner

★★★★☆ 4.4 (145) • $$

"Saint James French Diner is an American diner meets French bistro with a full bar and a charming French-inspired interior. SERVICEStaff were very attentive and friendly. DRINK5/5 Wink and a Nudge (spicy, smoky, fruity, sweet):Mezcal, Strega, passionfruit, guava, Thai chile. Mon amour gave me a spicy red wink and a nudge. FOOD5/5 Sunday Supper Special:Filet mignon (tender with savory gravy), bed of angel hair pasta with spicy tomato sauce (delightful with Parmesan), seasonal vegetable medley (asparagus, root vegetable cooked to perfection)This vraiment délicieux visit will have me coming back for more! :-)"

Shirley's Kitchen

★★★★☆ 4.1 (304) • $$

"Don't let the decor of this unassuming spot fool you. The dishes here are hearty, tasty and the employees here are super sweet!I came here Sunday around 10AM and was able to get a table pretty much immediately. Our waiter was a young fellow who was super nice and a total delight! He was so helpful and was great at checking in with us throughout our meal to ask if we needed anything.For myself, I got the CA eggs Benedict (with bacon on the side) -- 10/10.I ate everything on my plate because it was all too good to pass up! Shirley's Kitchen gives you a generous serving of hollandaise sauce atop your eggs, and the hash browns are nice with a slight crunchy layer on top.It's also a really nice spot for groups! They have a tent outside to make outdoor dining an option.The parking lot is pretty small, but I was able to find free street parking just outside."

Jo's Mission Hills Diner

★★★★☆ 4.3 (393) • $$

"My sister and I came here for lunch and we were not disappointed. My sister and I shared grandma Jo's lumpia, and that was pretty good. Then I had the French onion soup which is one of the best I've had. The meatloaf here is really tender and juicy and flavorful. I also had my sisters ham and cheese omelette with brussels sprouts and that was really good too."

Clayton's Coffee Shop

★★★★☆ 3.9 (1387) • $$

"Stopped in here for a breakfast client meeting and was not disappointed! The place was a very cute diner style and we had a table outside. Our server was quick to greet us and get our orders in. The iced coffee was delicious (and I'm very particular about my coffee) and the food was so scrumptious and were large portions! I wish I could have finished mine because it was so good!"

Bistro Pazzo

★★★★★ 4.5 (246) • $$

"Frutti di mare is soo good, fresh pasta and seafood, and so reasonably priced! We've been on the hunt for our go to Italian place in SD and this one checks all the boxes. The owner is charming and personable, he's been in the restaurant industry for decades, his experience and passion for this industry is evident!"

Beginners Diner

★★★★☆ 3.7 (160) • $$

"Its San Diego time, and I wanted to share with you some places I hit.Beginners is the 24 hr option at The Lafayette Hotel. I was able to get some pool time b4 meeting my cuz later, and the food at the pool is fr Beginners w/ a limited menu.I ordered the patty melt that comes w/ two patties & fries. The sandwich was really hearty, and the patties were moist and nicely seasoned. Likewise, the fries were GBD. The only downside was the price, but I'm at the pool mid-day during the week, and you're not - LOL.Regarding the ambiance, the pool is very cool at TL. I reserved a floor level pool access room. I walked out the back door to a lounge chair. The service was friendly & warm. There were two waitresses and it was surprisingly busy on a Thu afternoon in mid-May. The only miscue was I was not given napkins or ketchup by the server.The next time I stay at TL, I'll be sure to try other items on the menu like bfast, or their Reuben."

The Lafayette

★★★★☆ 4 (158)

"I loved the decor in the Lafayette hotel. They have the lobby bar plus a bar by the pool and the Gutter which is a bowling alley/bar plus a Mexican restaurant and a diner. I felt like you could go bar hopping without even leaving the hotel. I arrived at 630 pm on a Friday and could easily get a seat and table but by 730 it was packed in the lobby bar and by 8 it got packed in the Gutter so I suggest coming from 5-8 if you don't potentially want to wait for a seat.Also you have to go up to the bars to order drinks. They don't have servers. Also it took my friends 20 minutes to find parking since the Valet was full so I would highly suggest Ubering"

Madi

★★★★☆ 4.4 (896) • $$

"I do like Mad's Chicken Salad sandwich on whole wheat. The chicken salad is very good and comes with some very nice ingredients, most notably pieces of celery in the mayo mixture. The sandwich alone cost $11, but they charge if you want to add a side salad or fries. I think the sandwich should at least come with a pickle spear. The sandwich was good, but the chicken salad was even better. It was very flavorful and had a nice texture. The wheat bread they used was good, but a little dry since they served it cold. The sandwich came with fresh iceberg lettuce and tomatoes. They should switch to butter lettuce or romaine lettuce for better eye appeal and flavor. I had a regular drip coffee with my meal. It was surprisingly good for a drip coffee. It was smooth and offered a very good coffee flavor. The service was very good. The gents that served me were friendly. Come early if you don't was stand in line for brunch or later after noon for lunch to avoid the peek hour crowds. They serve until 2 pm."

Lakeside Cafe & Bakery

★★★☆☆ 3.3 (379) • $$

"I haven't been here in years, I don't know why. The food is fabulous. I got the triple decker sandwich, 1/2 fries and 1/2 onion rings. They did not skimp on the meat, even plenty of bacon. I will definitely be a return customer."

Mandarin Wok Restaurant

★★★★☆ 3.9 (838)

"Opted for the dinner special...plenty of food, plenty of options, just average.Great service!"

Hamburger Factory Family Restaurant

★★★★☆ 3.6 (642) • $$

"3.5 - 3.75 starsIt's good but I wouldn't say "great." Went for breakfast and it was a little busy but they were clearly understaffed. We got seated reasonably soon considering. Our server took drink orders for a table that got seated after us first. Meh.Yours truly ordered the hash. It was decent. It came served atop cheesy hash browns, with two pretty small poached eggs. The hash itself, while tasty, came in big chunks rather than small pieces; I had to cut it with a knife. Unusual for hash. The saving grace was that they offer coffee cake instead of toast. The cake was warm and delicious."

Toasted La Mesa

★★★★☆ 3.9 (369) • $$

"Went here for brunch yesterday. Joined the waitlist on yelp so the wait wasn't bad.Our waitress was Rachel and she was a joy! She knew the menu, made suggestions, and just had a positive attitude that made our time enjoyable. The food was DELICIOUS! We all ordered something different and it was all great. I am definitely putting this place on my brunch rotation ."

GP Diner

★★★★☆ 4.4 (97)

"the service started when we first walked in, welcomed with a smile and politely answering all of our questions. i'm not sure his name but this guy made sure my friend and i got what we wanted whether it was recommending what he thought was best or splitting up the pizza even though technically it wasn't on the menu. the seating arrangements was nice, beautiful whether perfect for a nice table outside. the food came quickly and it tasted good. the crust was crispy and the cheese melted in my mouth. very good i would recommend"

The Grant Grill

★★★★☆ 4.1 (528) • $$$

"LUNCH DINING EXPERIENCE A very lovely experience. Enrique and Roberto took care of us. They were very pleasant and kind. Last time we were here was for Dinner. I actually enjoyed my lunch experience more. We ordered the following...*COBB SALAD- Artisan Mix Greens, Pancetta, Hard Boiled Eggs, Cucumber, Cherry Tomato, Avocado, Smoked Blue Cheese DressingI Added Wild Tiger Shrimp *GRANT GRILL ALL NATURAL BEEF BURGER-Comte Cheese, Bacon, Caramelized Onions, Bread and Butter Pickles, Butter Leaf Lettuce, Brioche Bun*GRILLED CHICKEN SANDWICH -Arugula, Fried Green Tomatoes, Fontina Cheese, Tarragon Aioli, Onion BatardThe entrees were all delicious. The presentation was top notch. We heard they have really delicious burgers here. That's definitely true. I also enjoyed my salad with the nice plump shrimp. The chicken sandwiches were filling. On the down side, the fries could have been crispy and their "ketchup" was different. For dessert we chose... *LEMON-LIME BRÚLÉE -Coconut Curd, White Chocolate, Shortbread*STRAWBERRY SHORTCAKE- Semifreddo, Grilled Pound Cake, Rhubarb Vanilla GastriqueAgain, beautiful presentation. The both were yummy but not overpowering sweet which is nice. Overall excellent experience. I actually enjoyed the lunch over dinner experience."

Toasted Imperial Beach

★★★★☆ 3.9 (92)

"We stayed at the hotel for two nights and wanted to enjoy the sunset from our balcony so decided to order food to go from the on-site restaurant. I went with the smoked salmon toast and it was delicious! I've never had capers before and everything just worked out so well with the capers, jalapeño cream cheeses, smoked salmon and pricked red onion on a thick delicious toast. The service was fast and"

Harry's Coffee Shop

★★★★☆ 4.3 (1123) • $$

"Me to my daughter: "Look at this place! It's pure Main Street Americana. Bustling breakfast joint. Coffee pouring freely. All them truckers lined up at the counter fueling up for their long hauls."Daughter: "Dad, we're in La Jolla."Me: "Cyber-Trucks?"Okay not exactly on Route 66 but it did inspire some of the same images. Harry's is definitely a bustling joint. We were worried we wouldn't get in but the wait wasn't too long and the food was worth it. Huge tasty portions along with fast cheerful service.We ordered:BW BennyLa Jolla ScrambleCarne Asada Breakfast Burrito Corn Beef Hash and eggsLet's be honest. If it were just food alone, this would not be 5 stars more like 4. Would this Carne asada breakfast burrito stand up to a South Bay taco shop? Unlikely. The Corned Beef Hash looks like Libby's from a can. Is that bad? No. Grew up on that. I did enjoy really my BW Benny a lot. Not a crumb left of that waffle. It's just such a good vibe when you're at Harry'swith super friendly service and fun active atmosphere that pays special tribute to SD. Definitely worth a return visit!"

Rudford's Restaurant

★★★★☆ 3.7 (1521) • $$

"It has been a long time since I've been here, but a close friend was visiting and I said let's meet here like old times! But by old, I meant 1:45 am after leaving the Pirahna Room (RIP). They use to have these old school waitresses in blue uniforms who called you "sweetie" and "hun" but they are long gone.We came for late breakfast, and they were pretty busy, and only getting busier. I ordered the chicken fried steak, eggs scrambled, with hash browns and extra gravy. This has been my go to here forever! Either for breakfast or dinner. I also got mozzarella sticks which were perfect!The guy taking care of us was great! Let us hang out for a while to catch up. There are some vegetarian options, but this place is far from vegan (my friend is), so please don't come here and think you'll be able to find something. She made it work! I'm glad it still has that diner charm!"

Orchid Persian Cuisine

★★★★★ 4.6 (57)

"The meals at Orchid never disappoint. This place is close to the freeway so I have called in to go orders. After the first order of Khoresht Gheymeh Bademjan I knew I found a true Persian restaurant. I made this a once a week stop and have tried working my way through the stews. The flavors are authentic and food is so delicious. I work all over the state of California and this is one of the best Persian restaurants I have tried. The only other ones close have been in Los Angelos. You people that live in San Diego are so lucky to have this hidden gem. I have never had a meal at the restaurant so I can not comment on service."

101 Diner

★★★★☆ 4.4 (816) • $$

"A breakfast restaurant is a great spot if they have one great dish or maybe 2. This place has so many different dishes which are the absolute best. It's in the heart of Encinitas on the west side of coast hwy. here are their standouts. 1. Corned beef hash. Whether it is the Benedict or the stand alone breakfast order. It's perfectly flavored and the right amount of food. 2. Açaí bowls. They have the best açaí bowls in San Diego. Fresh fruit and granola and peanut butter. Absolutely spectacular. You can order a "small" and it's plenty of food. 3. Breakfast potatoes. They need their own recognition as they are so flavorful and so well done that it's hard to beat. My favorite breakfast potato anywhere. Everything here is good. There are good lunch options as well. It's just amazing. The truth is that I would rather have you not come so the wait isn't bad but I have to be honest and explain it's the best food in town. The only thing it doesn't cater to is Barneys on vacation from Iowa who need a colorful perfect place for their kids to feel comfy. This place is local for sure."

The Old Townhouse Restaurant

★★★★☆ 4 (521) • $$

"The Old Townhouse is a staple breakfast joint in OB. It's your typical, friendly, greasy-spoon diner dishing out all the classic breakfast dishes at lightning speed. I've been several times, but just stopped in recently after my eye appointment while I was waiting for my glasses. I was craving breakfast for lunch so I went with the 2 eggs, sausage, hash browns, and pancakes combo. It was exactly what I wanted - nothing fancy but still delicious. It truly did hit the spot. Service was quick and friendly and I liked having my bill ready at the table to go up to the register whenever I wanted and was done. I think I was in there maybe 45 mins total? Super efficient! If you're looking for a hearty breakfast in OB, this is your spot!"

Terra American Bistro

★★★★☆ 4.1 (936) • $$

"My last visit to Terra American Bistro was after the menu had been revamped. Specifically, I had read about the 'Meat & Three' option which was based on how some casual dining places in the South serve their meals. Other entrees and appetizers were listed on the front of the menu while the back of the menu displayed both the non-alcoholic and alcoholic beverages. The ten parking spaces immediately in front of the restaurant were all filled at my arrival, but they had an overflow agreement with the automobile repair shop across the street where you could park in their driveway after-hours.The dining room was maybe 1/3 full of customers so there was no wait at all for seating. I ordered a Southern Sweet Tea for my beverage which had unlimited refills. There was some fruity component added to the simple syrup because the waiter told me they used plain Lipton tea to brew the base. I ended up choosing the Jeff's Meatloaf as my meat entree with the following three sides... Yukon Potato Hash, Cardamom-Honey Glazed Carrots, Braised Spring Vegetables.The meatloaf was a combination of pork, beef, and lamb although the gaminess of the lamb was the most prominent flavor even with the brown gravy served on top. Of the sides, I liked the carrots the best because of the honey glaze. All the 'Meat & Three' selections were reasonably priced. The bonus at the time was getting a free serving of Bread Pudding for checking in. It was a generously portioned dessert that was a nice way to finish the meal. I gave a 3.5 star rating for my dinner at Terra American Bistro."

Golden Hill Cafe

★★★★☆ 3.8 (220)

"Golden Hill Cafe is such a cute and quaint little diner. It's tiny and it has been around for decades. Some of the best pancakes I've had are from here. If you're in a brunch mood - I highly recommend the chilaquiles. Next time, I'll order over-medium eggs. Sunny side up was too runny for me. The servers and cooks here are clearly experienced. You can grab a bite to eat - and be in and out of this joint in minutes! They are quick and the food is always served hot. You can't beat the prices here. A meal for my husband and I costs us $20-$30, compared to $50-$60 everywhere else in San Diego."

Studio Diner

★★★★☆ 3.7 (2162) • $$

"Wanna take a step back in time? If so, then stop by Studio Diner. They offer breakfast, lunch, and dinner menu items all day every day. Have a burger, fries, and milkshake while you enjoy old classics.I ordered the Boob Sandwich and my boyfriend ordered the San Diego Burger. We ordered a Cobb Salad for my daughter to-go. The food was good and portions were big. I was only able to finish half of my sandwich and some extra crispy fries. I had a sip of their strawberry milkshake...good stuff! What's nice is they have extras in a cold cup.Service was quick and pleasant."

Fay's Diner and Café

★★★★☆ 4.1 (307) • $$

"What a nice cafe! Hubby and I were seated promptly when we arrived. I ordered a hot chocolate and he got an iced tea. For food, we shared the chorizo torta, croque madame, and chocolate chip pancakes.When the food arrived, it looked so good. Everything we got was tasty and delicious. Service was also attentive and friendly. I can't believe it's been 7 months since my visit already. I need to come back and try their other menu items!"