- Restaurants |
- Nightlife |
- Shopping |
- Movies |
- All
Brothers Family Restaurant
Categories: Restaurants Diners Restaurants American (Traditional) Diners, American (Traditional) [Edit]
5150 Waring Rd(between Orcutt Ave & Zion Ave)
San Diego, CA 92120
Neighborhood: Del Cerro
(619) 287-0880
- Hours:
Mon, Sat-Sun 7 am - 2 pm
Tue-Fri 7 am - 8 pm
- Good for Groups:
- Yes
- Accepts Credit Cards:
- Yes
- Parking:
- Private Lot
- Attire:
- Casual
- Price Range:
-
$
- Good for Kids:
- Yes
- Takes Reservations:
- No
- Delivery:
- No
- Take-out:
- Yes
- Waiter Service:
- Yes
- Outdoor Seating:
- No
- Good For:
- Breakfast
- Alcohol:
- No
- Noise Level:
- Average
- Has TV:
- No
- Wheelchair Accessible:
- Yes
33 reviews for Brothers Family Restaurant
Review Highlights
-
"I recommend the pancakes, he loves their baken." In 14 reviews -
"Plus I love the staff they are so friendly." In 3 reviews -
"...over medium, bacon, hash browns & sourdough toast, which is..." In 7 reviews
Loading...
33 reviews in English
-
Review from Maggie M.
Chula Vista, CA
3/4/2012
I have been here for just regular ol' meals, and I've always been treated well. Today I walked in during brunch rush on Sunday morning, and asked for a table for 10 for 2 hours. I was seated at a LOVELY clean table in 10 seconds, and then my entire group got the most amazing friendly and cheerful service, good food, plenty of refills ... (AND GOOD FOOD).
Thank you Brothers Restaurant, you make a nice weekend a GREAT weekend. -
Review from Kate K.
San Diego, CA
4/17/2012 1 Check-in Here
Divey Divey Divey little place!!
But they make some delicious food.
Parking can suck.
The waitresses are caustic yet loveable.
If you're looking for somewhere to go for breakfast and you haven't been here yet, go now, if not to just check it off your list.
Delicious California Benedict
My stomach appreciates their pancakes
My ass appreciates the fruit salad.
Enjoy! -
Review from Jason N.
San Diego, CA
5/4/2012
Big fan of breakfast and lunch. I can't remember a place that offers a chicken fried steak sandwich with fries anywhere. Of course it's fantastically greasy and awful for you but tastes amazing! Last visit they had trouble poaching my eggs for a breakfast platter. They were basically hard boiled instead of poached but the staff were very quick in resolving the issue. It definitely has a 'Locals' feel to it, but even though I don't live close by it's still very inviting.
-
Review from Megan M.
San Diego, CA
11/6/2011
I liked the atmosphere a lot.....after frequenting overly yuppified (do they still exisit?) places for breakfast I am definately into the diner scene. Although I probably prefer Perry's Cafe's food as I said I liked the atmosphere. Full of ethnically diverse hardworking individuals all out for an all american breafast. Nothing too fancy and the windows covered in painted signs explaining the specials. The service was right on time with no nonsense. There is a counter near the door if you are alone but I opted for a table and was promptly seated at a table for one.
I had the Country Style Benedict which was delish! I might of liked a little larger portion of hash browns but you know what...we all over eat so much and American portions are ridiciously large anyway that it was really for the best!
Will most definately go back for the famous pies! Or maybe order one for Thanksgiving!
This diner is one of the top 10 diners in San Diego...I am on my way to trying all of them! -
Review from Alice M.
Chula Vista, CA
9/20/2011
I am surprised no one has mentioned about their homemade pies here.
If you come here, don't skip desserts because that is the best part. I tried their banana cream pie and it was the best tasting banana cream pie I ever had in my life! The pie was so soft and moist and you can just taste the fresh banana slices inside and the cream they used wasn't too sweet or too light. It was just perfect. I can't wait to try more of their pies and I have yet to try out their cheesecakes. -
Review from Neil B.
4/20/2011
It's all about the Grandma Jennies Pancakes. The lunch sandwiches are pretty awesome too.
This is a nice gem of a restaurant in Allied Gardens and I hope it stays for a long time. -
Review from Lindy W.
San Diego, CA
9/6/2011
1st time trying Brothers today (9/6/11) after driving by a million times and wondering about it. This place is grrreat! Chicken Fried Steak breakfast is SO good! Service was AMAZING, the staff is so friendly & have been there for years & the prices are right with different daily specials! I highly recommend this Allied Gardens neighborhood restaurant to all!
-
Review from Bob K.
San Diego, CA
5/25/2011
We are "locals" in Allied Gardens and have been going to Brothers almost weekly since it opened over 20 years ago....it's the neighborhood "gathering spot" for our neighborhood....great food, good prices and a staff that really takes an interest in their customers. The banquet room is often busy with meetings of many local groups...What else can you want? Great food, reasonable prices...great service and a loyal staff....Just redid the decor and menu which was a really nice change.
Bob and Mary -
Review from Jason B.
San Diego, CA
5/5/2010 6 photos
I'm not exactly sure what led me to believe that Brothers Family (http://www.yelp.com/bi...) Restaurant (breakfast spot # 39) was a black-owned and operated business. I guess you could say that, sometimes, I'm easily confused.
The kid that brought our drinks was axed a question: what is also served with your sandwiches? His reply was, "Um, I don't know, it should say on the menu." Score one for the home team! I took this as a sign from the Lard above to head towards the land of breakfast. At that precise moment, we began our journey.
I asked our server (whom, by the way, looked like she had been up for the last 3 weeks) what the difference was between Grandma Jenny's Pancakes and the regular ones that they serve. She said the regular ones come from a box and GJ's are made from scratch. Despite appearances, our server was on it by always checking in with us.
BFR appeared to have two rooms (http://www.yelp.com/bi...) and I'm also pretty sure that they don't have a lavatory attendant whom you need to tip after you finish your bidness.
The plates of food finally arrived:
http://www.yelp.com/bi...
http://www.yelp.com/bi...
Everything was average with the exception of Grandma Jenny's Pancakes. Those damn things were really good:
http://www.yelp.com/bi...
On the wall near the front counter was an autographed picture of the owner with Tiger Woods (http://www.yelp.com/bi...). I asked her if anyone has made any derogatory marks about Tiger when they see it. She said that everyone has something to say about it. She then immediately disappeared into the back which, I guess, means that she was either really busy or not interested in talking about Tiger.
Like I said, sometimes, I'm easily confused.Listed in: Breakfast spots that hit the…
-
Review from Justin C.
San Francisco, CA
8/15/2008 3 photos
I love people watching. And by "people watching" I do not mean "stalking" (which I also love.)
Craving a good breakfast at noon, my aunt and uncle (who are my age - long story) and I went to Brother's Family Restaurant. I didn't know what it was called before I came, but I just knew that I had passed it a million times seeing "family restaurant" every time.
First Impression!
Walking in, we were presented with a cafe/diner scene straight out of a drama-comedy that always involves ordering a pie from the waitress. Immediately to the right, there was a table with magazines laid out for you to grab with titles such as "Life after 50".
...oh...waitaminute...
this is where the old people go when they're waiting for dinner/dessert at Foster's Freeze (see my foster's freeze review)
I am not exaggerating when I say that everybody in the restaurant was 100 times older than me. Ok, maybe just 2.5 times.
Food!
I'll say right now - the food was above average - i had polish sausage with hash browns. Get the biscut with butter: it is amazing... so soft.
Characters!
anyway, back to the characters. I managed to sketch out some of the more memorable ones when I got home - but next time I will bring my sketchbook.
1) White Ray Charles mixed with Jack Nicholson.
this guy sat down with a cup of coffee our whole meal. I felt that we were in a place where time moved at a snail's pace... and it was awesome.
2) Lady with multiple sunglasses.
this lady sat at a 4 person table by herself, and if she was with somebody, it'd explain the extra pair of sunglasses at her table - but I waited and watched but nobody else ever came. Haunting.
3) Man with the widest mustache.
this was on the way out of Brothers. we saw young (around 45 yrs old) man with a mustache that honestly went to 1/2 an inch from his sideburns... it was magical... but what made it even better was the fact that he was hanging out outside of a beauty/barber salon.
Reading!
get a free book!!! from the basket when you walk in "please take only one" - I got Doctor No, first paperback 1959. Classic.
Drinking!
new drinking game: "Drink (OJ) every time the apologetic busser say's "sorry" - It was understandable when he reached across one of us to fill up the water, but less so when he put the water back down. Then a third time just when he walked by - out of nowhere, "Sorry!"
new drink: Creme/Hazulnut Bomb
1) open creme
2) drop in OJ
3) chug
Why this place didn't get 5 stars:
if you're going to get any sort of drink, make it a large. Small is around the size of a double shotglass, and the medium is just small.
I'll post some sketches in a sec. Check em out.
Your Friend,
Justin -
Review from Amy S.
7/18/2008
My mom and I decided to take a little breakfast venture in search of a good new place to eat. Little did we know, Brother's was not exactly what we were looking for.... I am a waffle fiend and my mom was craving some pancakes, and by the advertised coupon she had, the pancakes were said to be amazing. I don't know how they were because I didn't try them.
It was pretty cool to go to breakfast in Allied Gardens, not your typical spot for restaurants. My first skeptical feeling was that it was in a strip mall next to a beauty supply store and a travel agency.... Walking inside made it feel very much like a roadside diner in some weird crappy town. Miss Ambiance (aka myself) was very unimpressed with the decor.... would it kill them to put some color somewhere? And I do not understand the appeal to the "fake ferns" that every place like this insists on hanging up. Complimentary San Diego Readers, City Beats, and other assorted publications were available which struck points with me as we waited to be seated. The staff was extremely friendly and got us our coffee really quickly. The menu was pretty big but with the basic breakfast favorites. Took me a while to locate the waffles on the page which nearly gave me a heart attack.
So I went for the waffle special with scrambled eggs and sausage. And my mom stuck with her pancakes.
The coffee was amazing. By the time the food came the coffee was gone... and never asked again for a refill throughout the duration of our meal.... The food was decent, but the waffle got soggy too quickly and the scrambled eggs and sausage didn't look that scrumptious. It was bad food, it just wasn't anything to get extremely excited over.
I liked that the bill was brought to the table when the food was. I hate places that make you sit and wait for them to decide when you leave....
The experience was alright, but nothing I'd go out of my way for or even really recommend to hungry friends....Listed in: Breakfast
-
Review from Jeff T.
San Diego, CA
12/5/2009
Brother's is a greasy spoon neighborhood diner in Allied Gardens that merits a solid three. There's nothing wrong with being a 3-star place if you are a greasy spoon neighborhood diner, which is why my wife and I go there a lot.
The food is all about average. Average coffee, average bacon, average hash browns, average eggs, etc. The Grandma Jenny's pancakes are quite tasty, though I don't think they stack up (ha ha) against some of the truly delicious pancakes of the world. There are too many other choices for lunch and dinner in the area, so we only go there for breakfast.
PROS
This place is all about neighborhood and families. (Especially older families.) The staff is all incredibly nice and seem to know a lot of people by name (or at least by sight). There's something comforting about sitting down, having a cup of coffee instantly appear, and your server asking "The usual?"
CONS
The decor is badly outdated, though it's oddly part of the charm. It's a bit hard to imagine there was a time when all of it was new and someone said, "Yes, let's go with that. That looks good." Whenever it was, it was a long, long time ago.
THE SKINNY
Stop here for breakfast if you are in Allied Gardens. You may even find yourself stopping here often if you live nearby because the entire staff is so friendly and welcoming. I wouldn't suggest a special trip if you aren't in the neighborhood. -
Review from Cara H.
San Diego, CA
1/27/2012
My family and I stopped in after driving by numerous times. We were pleasantly surprised by the cozy atmosphere and warm friendly staff! I had an omelette with avocado, bacon and cheese and loved it! The eggs were light and fluffy, every bite of bacon was perfectly crispy and they put an entire sliced avocado on top! The shredded hash browns were cooked to perfection, crispy on the outside and warm and soft on the inside. My dish was also served with fresh salsa made in-house that morning, so good! My 3 year old loved her pancakes which the cook made in the shape of Mickey Mouse for her :) I loved our waitress who made it feel like a friend or family member was helping us, genuinely warm and friendly. We have found our new breakfast spot in this gem!
-
Review from Barbara B.
San Diego, CA
2/21/2010
After a fun morning at the Reuben H. Fleet Science Center, we were attempting to have an outdoor snack when it started to rain. So after a quick search on yelp, as we drove homeward, we discovered Brothers Family Restaurant.
As mentioned this place is nothing fancy, just home cooking - and it seems they are doing something right as the place was packed. The service was good for the number of tables they were serving. A young man sat us down, got two high chairs, and took our drink order. My ice tea became coffee - but, he quickly brought an ice tea. Just no menus. When a new family was seated behind us - I over heard the man saying he ordered Ice tea, looking the same young man was taking away a cup of coffee. Strange.
We ordered breakfast - the biscuit was great, the gravy was tasty (and they let you order it on the side), eggs, bacon and hash browns were all good.
While this place is more 3.5 stars they get a full 4 for tasty gravy. Really the only downside is they are so close to heavenly donuts - see my review. We are looking forward to trying dinner here sometime. -
Review from Melissa P.
San Diego, CA
1/1/2012
My go to place for a good old american home cooked breakfast. You know a place is good when you see the senior citizens hanging around. Always, always oder grandma jenny's pancakes, I don't know what they put in them but I stay full all day.
-
Review from Aileen C.
Lemon Grove, CA
12/30/2010
Brother's has got to be one of my all time favorite places for breakfast and lunch! Grandma Jennie's pancakes melt in your mouth, they are so good. I usually get the build your own omelet or the Machaca for breakfast, while my family orders their regular 2 eggs, over medium, bacon, hash browns & sourdough toast, which is perfect every time.
They have just started serving these incredible cinnamon rolls now too, so good!
I'm not sure how known they are for dinner but we've gone there and it's pretty good. I'd say better than some of the franchise establishments down the hill.
The staff is friendly and the atmosphere is very welcoming. I defnitely recommend eating here! -
Review from Robert C.
1/5/2011 1 Check-in Here
Pretty good little diner, total local spot. Be prepared to dodge the old people locals gathering around in the lobby, although they were very polite to us that didn't keep them from being in the way!
Prices were reasonable, service was somewhere between professional and surly and the restaurant had a homey feel to it. My biggest complaint is that fact that I had to ask to have my coffee refilled, at a breakfast joint that's not ok, usually they are trying to give me caffeine overload with a million refills. Mind you only got the one refill, so this cost Brother's a star, no joke that's a big deal to me. Breakfast for 4 and everyone was satisfied, yet not blown away by their choices. At a neighborhood breakfast place I guess you really can't expect more than that. I did have the special Eggs Benedict posted on the board, and it did have something a little special about it with the English muffin. It was a little better than the ordinary muffin places use, couldn't put my finger on it but I appreciated it. All and all this place is a nice little breakfast spot, and while you can do better than Brother's you can also certainly do worse. -
Review from Mean P.
La Mesa, CA
2/14/2011
My family and I ate here last Friday. They've updated the decor and it looks really nice. The servers are attentive and friendly. The food: They have updated the menu. My brother-in-law and sister ordered the Prime Rib Dinner. It was $30 and included soup or salad, sides and both got a dessert of homemade pie. Can't beat that! My mom ordered fish and chips and there wasn't anything left to take home. I had the Western Burger with green chilies served with sweet potato fries (a new item on the menu). It was great! The prices are affordable. You can bring kids and seniors here and everyone will feel comfortable. If you want some food that tastes like home, but without the dishes to clean up afterwards, try Brothers!
-
Review from chuck p.
San Diego, CA
12/31/2010 3 Check-ins Here
This is a solid place for a comforting breakfast. The value is good here as well. I suggest getting the Grandma Jenny pancakes instead of the regular. Good stuff!
-
Review from Timothy D.
San Diego, CA
2/15/2011
We love this place. The food is consistent and delicious and service is quick and friendly. We have been here plenty of times but only for breakfast. We have tried most items on the menu and they are all great, just depends on what you are in the mood for.
-
Review from J.b. C.
Lemon Grove, CA
12/8/2010
Great family place. The food is great and the breakfasts are the bomb. my family have been eating there for many years. They are very busy saturday and sunday mornings but anytime is a good time to go.
-
Review from J C.
Silverdale, WA
10/9/2008
What can you expect from a old cafe style joint in a strip mall called Brothers Family restaurant?
The hubby, I and our friend hit this place up after a night of drinking. We were ready for some good old hangover breakfast to help start the day. Driving up we saw quite few patrons leaving that were as you say... over the hills... many hills. We figured it must be some good comfort food... and at the least consistent.
We all ordered some coffee and took a look around. It was old, wood paneling and old movie pictures and posters framed on the walls. After checking out he menu, my day began to brighten.
I have a weakness for Machaca... my husband often calls me Machaca as my pet name. :) And a Machaca Omelet... that could work! Even better, you get hashbrowns with that and can either choose toast or a biscuit with gravy. Hell, we were hung over, of course I am getting the biscuit with gravy! the Machaca Omelet was great, hash browns good, and the biscuit with gravy was not too shabby it self.
We can see ourselves hitting up this place again. It's cozy, easy going... and we felt at home.
I do second the post below... the coffee refills were hard to come by... might want to bring your own or ask early. :) -
Review from Ray V.
San Diego, CA
4/13/2009 1 Check-in Here
By far, the best PANCAKES I've had in my entire life! I'm not exaggerating or kidding That recipe is patentable and should be on grocers shelves. Why any of the other mixes currently on store shelves are even there, I have no idea! Fellow Yelpers, this isn't for you if you want real plants or colorful or tasteful decor...(sorry Amy). Granted...its kind of a hole in the wall, but in a good old fashioned, family run diner kind of way. And granted, all I can attest to "foodwise" are the pancakes. So if you're in the mood for pancakes, with good prices and friendly service, check out Brothers Family Restaurant.
-
Review from Tiffani C.
San Diego, CA
2/6/2008
After randomly driving by it one day (across from an Albertsons) my boyfriend and I decided to stop there for breakfast. It was cheap, fast and wonderful. We've gone every Thurdays morning since. I recommend the pancakes, he loves their baken.
-
Review from BUFFY M.
San Diego, CA
5/23/2008
Great little restaurant in Allied Gardens. Mostly open for Breakfast and Lunch. But on Thursday and Friday nights they are open till 8pm. The special is Prime Rib for $12.99. It is worth it. You get Prime Rib, Baked Potato with all the trimmings, vegetable, and a salad. Never that busy. Great, friendly waitresses and nice bus person. Saturday morning breakfast is good. Especially the pancakes. They also have a room for meetings or whatever you might need.
-
Review from Mike S.
San Diego, CA
7/6/2010 27 Check-ins Here
I've only had breakfast here so i cant comment on the lunch or dinner but the breakfast is pretty good. The staff is friendly and always remembers us. It also doesn't hurt that it's the closest breakfast spot to my house.
-
Review from E N.
San Diego, CA
7/25/2009
I don't get it.
Maybe it's the kind of place people want to support because they go to church with the owners or waitresses?
The food wasn't good (including the special pancakes-they were greasy and served with margarine), the atmosphere was surprisingly spare (When I heard "pictures of brothers" I expected more) like a banquet room in a church, maybe.
We received lots of attention from our waitress, but I didn't feel comfortable being honest about the pancakes when she asked if they were good. What's the point? It's not like they could make them better while I was still there, and I'm not going back.
It's a pleasant place, but there are the "greasy spoons" where the food isn't actually all that greasy, where pancakes are fluffy and your food looks appetizing, and then there are places where the food really is greasy, the french toast is an un-natural color of yellow and your omelet is flat and oily. This is the latter.
The only thing that impressed me was the hash browns which came out crispy.
This is a review I feel bad about writing because maybe nice people run the place, but I was disappointed.
Where do people go in San Diego for a solid, down-home breakfast that has a little soul but isn't totally hipped out? -
Review from Brian P.
San Diego, CA
8/9/2010
Brothers is a great stand by for breakfast. It is just a basic, old fashion, family breakfast joint. The food is good and the staff is friendly.
-
Review from Davo L.
Atlanta, GA
11/7/2009
I have been here twice since its just down the street for some breakfast and was happy with the food and service. I tried the Grandma Jennies Pancakes and they were pretty good, different from your normal buttermilk, they were lighter and not as heavy on the stomach. The bacon was excellent, and the eggs were a little over done as most places do, but was happy with the price and the food.
-
Review from Howard W.
San Diego, CA
9/25/2009
Just had breakfast here for the first time. Nothing fancy here, just a great family restaurant! I had Grannys pancakes which were excellent. Well definately be going back.
-
Review from I R.
San Diego, CA
5/20/2011
This is a great gem of a family restaurant hidden in Allied Gardens. We especially love their breakfast--great scrambles and omelettes, hearty bacon and tasty sausages. But my very favorite is Gramma Jennie's pancakes. They're the best around, and you can get them with blueberries, apples or bananas. Wow! And, the staff friendliness is an added bonus. You'll feel like family!
-
Review from David J.
San Diego, CA
8/27/2006
The bedroom community of Allied Gardens features Brother's Family Restaurant. Awesome for breakfast and home cookin' comfort food for all meals of the day. On the walls you will find pictures of famous brothers (mostly from the 70's when the brothers thing was in) like: the Righteous Brothers, Doobie Brothers, Jackson 5, etc.
-
Review from Rob O.
San Diego, CA
8/11/2009
The country eggs Benedict is the best, and the grandma Jennings pancakes are great too. It is definately a 5 star breakfast place However I have found the lunch menu is only OK. Its 5 stars breakfast & 3 for lunch. Avg of 4. Plus I love the staff they are so friendly
