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Cafe 976
Categories: Food Coffee & Tea Restaurants Delis Coffee & Tea, Delis [Edit]
976 Felspar St(between Bayard St & Cass St)
San Diego, CA 92109
Neighborhood: Pacific Beach
(858) 272-0976
- Price Range:
-
$
- Accepts Credit Cards:
- Yes
- Parking:
- Street
- Attire:
- Casual
- Good for Groups:
- Yes
- Good for Kids:
- Yes
- Takes Reservations:
- No
- Delivery:
- No
- Take-out:
- Yes
- Waiter Service:
- Yes
- Outdoor Seating:
- Yes
- Wi-Fi:
- Free
- Good For:
- Lunch, Breakfast
- Alcohol:
- No
- Noise Level:
- Average
- Ambience:
- Casual
- Has TV:
- No
- Caters:
- No
- Wheelchair Accessible:
- Yes
333 reviews for Cafe 976
Review Highlights
"I had the acai bowl and it was delicious and healthy."
(in 37 reviews)
"Amazing outdoor seating under the trees."
(in 27 reviews)
"The spinach burger was awesome."
(in 11 reviews)
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333 reviews in English
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Review from Greg B.
San Diego, CA
1/7/2012 1 photo
Nice location and an interesting history. Apparently the building is like 100+ years old and used to be a house and school among other things. Now it's a restaurant - pretty cool.
It's not like a typical diner and you're not gonna get heavy portions of anything. Coming in I thought they'd have burgers and large breakfast plates but that's not the case. Controlled portions and fresh sandwiches are the trademarked items here, and I think that may be a good thing for what it's aiming to be, which I think is a convenient coffee shop type place but with a slightly more extended menu.
I got something called a Rule Britannia. I still have no idea what the hell that means, but it's eggs with tomatoes and bacon served with toast and potatoes. It was good. Not mind-blowing, but definitely adequate. Portion was just about right. Again, you're not going to get a giant amount of food, but it's enough to serve your needs, and this is coming from someone who takes large portions and the phrase "all-you-can-eat" as personal challenges.
Service was nice and on a sunny day it's perfect for outdoor seating.
Pretty good. I'd return, but for a meal packed with more fat and carbohydrates, check another place. -
Review from Patricia C.
La Jolla, CA
1/26/2012
Quirky place. It's almost like they mashed five rooms together and made it into a cafe. One for ordering, three for sitting, and one for the bathroom.
Parking availability varies at this place. It seems to be pretty popular to study or talk to a friend over a meal with. With that said, if you are studying come before noon to find a good seat; earlier if you need an outlet. There are only a few outlets but wifi is not bad. At least it is about a block away from the main streets in PB.
I came here on different occasions and ordered a couple of different things.
-The acai bowl is not bad, just a little small for its price. $5.50 for acai + banana + granola. Add another dollar for the 'works' which includes blueberries and strawberries. The portion size isn't very big and its more on the watery side if I remember correctly.
-I ordered something else at another point in time but I really can't remember what it is right now. Woops.
-Had a mocha and drip coffee before. $3 for a single shot mocha. It is decent, nothing super special about it.
The service was acceptable. Nothing special about that either. They weren't overly hospitable or friendly but were attentive enough.
Next time I go back, I would like to go back and try sitting on the patio. -
Review from Adam Z.
San Diego, CA
Updated - 1/17/2012
Do NOT go to this "cafe"!!
Don't WASTE your time on this place! The service here is ridiculous. I've made the mistake of trying them more than a few times over the last four years as the garden setting and proximity to the ocean is neat. But they have some cultural problem that just never seems to get fixed. Attitude problems and snotty wait staff, ridiculous wait times, poor service, a few slightly different menu items, and maybe a saving grace of occasionally decent coffee. And my last trip last weekend is the last straw.
This was a place I loved four years ago that has just gone downhill consistently, and sadly.
These people need to learn some pride in their work. And after this last visit I'm done with them. If you're reading this review do yourself a HUGE favor and read all the rest of the terrible service reviews!! Anyone rating them highly clearly has won the 976 not-a-jerk-staff-member lottery!! I've had a good experience or two that let me come back but the record 3/5 terrible atrocious service ... ugh. I've never been so disappointed, am the nicest person in the world, and always tip well for just friendly service. Actually this is my only bad review ... ever.
Cafe 976 is a horrible crap shoot for service. Do NOT come here, do NOT bring friends here.1 Previous Review: Show all »
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8/21/2010
The service is so horrible now I had to come back and edit my four stars to one. I will never return… Read more »
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Review from Furai X.
Berkeley, CA
1/16/2012
Too pricey for what you get. I got the Cafe 976 salad and it was fine. Nothing special.
My friend got the french toast and it looked...sad. The bread slices were depressingly small and lacked the fluff and oomph that I've seen in other brunch places. The coloring was off too.
As far as ambiance, we chose outdoor seating which would have been very pleasant if it wasn't so cold and windy that day. I liked the variety and eclectic mix of seating options.
With so many brunch places by PB, there's no reason for me to come back for mediocre food. -
Review from Heather B.
Chula Vista, CA
2/3/2012
Nice little spot, the staff is super friendly. Excellent location, it's only a couple blocks from the beach. The Portobella Mushroom sandwich is my favorite here.
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Review from Lauren L.
1/3/2012 4 photos
Every morning my friend and I would get up and run on the boardwalk by the beach. Doesn't get better than that right?! Wrong, it wasn't until my friend decided to run the food lover, myself, by Cafe 976. The little eatery stole my heart right away with their outdoor garden like seating. I had no intentions of eating here but of course, it was only natural for me to grab a menu and after quick review I was sold. My friend was ranting and raving about their spinach burger and the numerous other goodies they dish out. Let's just say, I couldn't wait to get back from my run so I could quickly make my way back out the door to head to Cafe 976 for breakfast! The other amazing part about heading to this outdoor foodie haven, was that I was able to ride my bike!
I arrived to Cafe 976 around 8:30ish and the little cafe was already buzzing with what could have been their morning regulars. Before getting my spot outside, I poke my head in to scope out their glass case of fresh baked goods and pastries. What's became a reoccurring theme in San Diego, when it comes to their breads, once their out, their out and you're SOL. There was seating indoors, but not many can say they had breakfast outside outside at the end of December, well not if you're from the East coast.
While I had already reviewed the menu and one too many things had caught my eye, I was extremely torn on what I should order. When the waitress came over, I had her start me off with the an Almond Joy Espresso: chocolate, coconut and almond, iced. Let me just tell you, it was a tropical paradise delight. After spending more time with the menu, only making my list of choices longer, I finally decided to ask the waitress for some help. I told her I was going to be here for one meal only, and I needed to make it good! I had mentioned that my friend loves their spinach burger and her response was, "that's my favorite dish." Even though it was only 9 AM, I was on vacation, I was going for it and ordering a burger, with a side of soy chorizo.
The spinach burger is a homemade patty accompanied by fresh mozz, avocado, red onion, tomato, and jalapeno mayo. You then get to choose your bread, which I really left to waitress and she suggested foccacia bread. As I took in the sun along with the scenery to pass the time, I was soon greeted by my brunch. The spinach burger was served up with a side salad of romaine lettuce topped with feta in a balsamic dressing.
I couldn't wait to dig into this burger, it looked absolutely beautiful, almost too pretty to eat. The bread was warm and the bottom piece had soaked up some of the balsamic. The spinach burger alone was out of this world. Veg burgers sometimes don't stay together so nicely but this was firm and full of flavor. The rest of the goodies on the sandwich that joined the spinach burger for the party really brought the sandwich together just perfectly. The jalapeno mayo had a little bite to it which would hit you after having bite and a few chews. The soy chorizo, my first soy chorizo experience was a very good one. This was another item on menus I kept seeing so I had to indulge. While on the spicier side, it was grilled up with a few little burn marks giving it a little crunch but not taking away from the zesty flavor.
Sadly my meal had to come to an end and I had to leave this little outdoor oasis of an eatery. I was very pleased with the service, while at first it seemed slow I didn't let it bother me, it was time to relax and enjoy. My tab was $15 for my three items, and I thought it was well worth it. If you are a veghead or going out with people who need vegetarian options I would highly suggest Cafe 976 for either breakfast or lunch. Next time I'm back in San Diego, the spicy eggplant burrito and I are going to spend some time together. -
Review from Bonnie G.
Updated - 12/26/2011
What happened, to you, Cafe 976? You used to be fabulous. You used to be delicious. You used to be fun. Now, you're just bad food and bad service.
We visited you today after purchasing a groupon a few weeks ago. The highlight of our meal was that we were seated quickly.
I ordered 1/2 sandwich, the BLAT (bacon, lettuce, avocado, and tomato) and the soup of the day which was sweet potato and blue cheese soup. My husband ordered the mahi mahi fish tacos.
Here's what came out:
Cauliflower soup and a sad looking sandwich. I called the server over (not our server since we never saw her) and told him this wasn't the soup of the day. He agreed and said they must have just run out. Hmm..why didn't my server tell me that when I ordered? He offered to bring something else out but they were out of soup and their only hot option comparable to soup was vegetarian chili. Ok, I'll try it. It was actually pretty tasteless, except for the mass amount of salt in the dish. The cauliflower soup was gross (sorry to offend whoever made it). It was watery and tasteless.
My husband's fish tacos looked okay but he said they were average, at best. Oddly enough, when my husband ordered this, our original server commented that he made a good choice.
Cafe 976, you've changed. This time, it isn't me. It's you. :(Listed in: Breakfast- my favorite meal of…
1 Previous Review: Show all »
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7/8/2009
My life has changed forever because I recently had a breakfast burrito at 976 Cafe. Being the idiot… Read more »
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Review from Ezra M.
Beverly Hills, CA
1/30/2012 1 Check-in Here
Beautiful location. Food is light but pretty good overall. Don't go out of ur way but if ur around the way.
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Review from Naomi L.
Honolulu, HI
12/22/2011
I love cafe 976! I have been going here since I lived in SD during undergrad and have taken several of my friends here. Whether they are from Hawaii of Califonia, everyone has enjoyed this cute little cafe!
The food is more than reasonably priced for the size and the fun coffee favors are always a hit. Typical favorites are funky monkey (coffee w/chocolate and banana flavor) and the irishman (coffee with mint and something else yummy). I love their Acari bowls more than many other places that I've tried and can't get enough of their breakfast burritos.
The inside is a nice place to study and should be checked out even if you are ordering to sit outside in the garden area (which is lovely). I've never had any issues with service and found everyone working there to be really pleasant and nice.
Hint: all eggs ordered come scrambled only. If you know that in advance, you won't be disappointed. Btw, the eggs are deliciously done scrambled.
Bonus: it's literally a few blocks away from the boardwalk. If you're going to spend the time hunting for parking in PB, you should definitely take the extra few minutes to go down to the beach if it's a nice day. -
Review from Bob M.
San Diego, CA
Updated - 11/27/2011
I talked to the manager Hannah about my bad experience with Alan. She unequivocally stuck up for him. They must need him badly. I mentioned how I ordered an egg sandwich and he brought me scrambled eggs. She said that's how they do all of their eggs there. Apparently, she doesn't know what a sandwich is (e.g. two pieces of bread with meat inside).
I was very disappointed she wanted to "tow the party line" without really listening to me. When I said he forgot my coffee altogether, she said sorry in an offhand manner. While we spoke, a tall man who did not identify himself stood by her side. Toward the end of the conversation he looked pretty spooked, started moving away from her and looked at me as if to say, "God damn, dude. I'm sorry.....I wish I could do something."
Oh well. This place used to be great. All places go through cycles. I guess this is the crap cycle....which is hard to do for a cafe. But if they serve scrambled eggs when you ask for an egg sandwich and don't really mind forgetting your coffee, then go to bat for the employee who messed up the order, something is up.
I should mention Alan told me he never wanted me to return to this cafe when I was there last. I figured he was just being a jerk and he'd forget or something. However, when I returned, he quickly told me to leave. I was shocked and immediately asked to speak to his manager.
To make a long story short, Hannah agreed that I should be banned. When I said I've been going there for years and I'm disappointed she was treating me that way, she said she's sorry I feel that way. Similarly, when she stuck up for Alan and said he was the best waiter they have, I told her I'm sorry she feels THAT way.
Oh well. There is a great cafe about 3 blocks North of Cafe 976. It's much better and the atmosphere is great. I'm sure Cafe 976 and Alan saw me as a little dollar sign instead of a big dollar sign and had no trouble telling me to never return. Pretty jacked up if you ask me.
One last thing. When I was seated in a chair by the door several months previous, Alan opened the door and slammed it into my leg. I'm pretty sure he did this on purpose and left a bruise. It hurt, but I didn't get angry or say anything. Thinking back, this guy was an asshole every single time I went to this cafe. I'm not quite sure why he's such a dick, but it's probably because he's a skinny, little, kiss-ass wannabe. Just my 2 cents.
Fuck you guys.2 Previous Reviews: Show all »
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11/20/2011
Last time I was in this cafe, Alan helped me and the service was absolutely horrible. I asked him… Read more »
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Review from Tinie T.
Encinitas, CA
12/10/2011 1 Check-in Here
Yay! Super charming place to hang out.
Ambiance: A+
Beautiful photography and artwork on the walls. Even when you come here in the evenings, it's bright (a soft bright) and inviting inside. Plenty of comfortable areas to sit. Lots of people like to study and do work on their laptops here. The vibe is just amazing to me... instantaneously relaxing. I feel like I'm at home- if my home happened to be in the East Hamptons and was an adorable beach house.
Service: A
The barista was a ball of sunshine and puppy essence. Cute, as baristas tend to be. (That's how they rack up the tips, you know.) He was really helpful! He let my friend and I know how much time we had left since we came near closing time, and wanted to make sure we were okay with it before we ordered our drinks and sat down. The drinks were made quickly and delivered to us with friendly cheer.
Drinks: A
YUM. How happy was I to peruse the menu and see THAI ICED TEA!!!!!!! I love that they serve this exotic Asian awesomeness at a non-Asian establishment. I'm used to seeing this beverage when I'm at Asian restaurants, so seeing this sweet treat at Cafe 976 got me excited. Sweet, but not too sweet, milky, and creamy... ahhhh.... loved it.
Highly recommend Cafe 976 for meeting up with friends and catching up over Thai iced teas. -
Review from Lisa M.
San Diego, CA
11/16/2011
The food here is yummy and I used to love this place when you could just pay for your food up front and seat yourself. Then a few years ago they switched the restaurant to "full service" dining. Unfortunately, however, they forgot to provide the service portion of this concept. Now, you're forced to endure the most atrocious, non-existent service EVER. I keep making the mistake of coming back here because I do love the food, and every time I go into it knowing that the service will be infuriating. This last time, however, reached all new levels of terrible. For the first time in my life I did not leave a tip because there was absolutely no service in which to tip.
Here's the breakdown: After waiting outside for 5 minutes a server sat me at a table. Knowing that she probably wouldn't be back for awhile (because the service is consistently awful), I ordered immediately after sitting down. This was the last I saw of her at my table. It took 40 minutes to receive a lunch sandwich, during which time the server never once came back to refill my soda or water. I had to go up to the front counter twice to get a refill. On the second refill, the server was the one standing at the front counter and she did not apologize or otherwise acknowledge that I had to go up to ask for water. After I had been done with my sandwich a good 20 minutes, I eventually had to walk up to the front counter to ask for my check since I realized at that point that it was never going to come to me.
Cafe 976, you either need to let customers order/pay up front, or hire a completely new staff and provide real service. -
Review from Dominique H.
San Diego, CA
1/18/2012
Not bad. Server was nice and boy does he keep busy running around. Had a bagel with hummus and a hot white chocolate. Really good hummus, the drink was yummy but could have been hotter and i took home some croissants which looked great but are a bit stale/not the best ive had. Still recommend it and it's in a lovely old house
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Review from Stephanie R.
San Diego, CA
11/25/2011
By far my favorite coffee shop in PB.
Such a cute place, I end up spending a lot of Fridays working here. The only complaint I have is that, because the cafe is located in a renovated old house, the only way the eggs are made is scrambled. Therefore, I much prefer Cafe 976 for lunch or just for coffee. That being said, it's such a charming place with a lot of character. The coffee and tea selection is extensive, and the menu has a lot of variety. -
Review from Sean C.
San Diego, CA
11/21/2011 1 Check-in Here
This is a great little cafe in an old cottage just a few blocks from the beach in PB. In addition to their great coffee and tea selection (hence, a quality cafe), they have a pretty good breakfast/lunch food menu, and healthy too.
They also have a wonderful little garden patio outside, which is perfect for a nice San Diego morning. I recommend this place for a relaxing breakfast or lunch any day. -
Review from Jen T.
10/24/2011 2 Check-ins Here
I am certainly not so much of an outdoorsy person as others I know. I am not into plants. Not into gardens. Not into being IN gardens. Not into the bugs/spiders that come along with gardens.
Although everything I have ever eaten at 976 (or drank for that matter) has been yummy, I always feel on edge sitting in the jungle waiting for a gnarly crawly thing or some bird poop to fall in my plate.
That said, the salads are decent, the menu is extensive, the service is good. They also let you bring dogs into the outdoor area, although didn't look like they did anything to accommodate them like some other places do (maybe putting down a water bowl or something).
The Turkey Avocado salad with ranch is the one I ordered last time. It had a little too much lettuce... and everyone should know by now that if you aren't using Hidden Valley Ranch, you might as well just snot all over my salad, because any other kind of ranch is pretty much unacceptable!
They have free wi-fi for all the jobseekers out there.... although sometimes they will leave you standing in front at the hostess stand for an abnormal amount of time before someone notices you.
Oh, and I am pretty sure they do not serve anything alcoholic.. -
Review from Mark H.
San Diego, CA
1/4/2012
Great location, wonderful outside patio with great garden setting. Lot's of good tea and coffee.
I found the sandwiches to be dry all three times I tired. the. Last visit I opted for the salad and soup combo, not cheap but the lentil/lemon soup sounded good that day. I I was surprised that the bowl was filled only 1/3 of the way up. It looked as if someone had eaten half of the portion.
After bringing the food, the waitress dropped off the bill and said "I'm getting busy so I'll just leave this here now". We had wanted to order some pastries after the meal but she never reappeared and we didn't.
The cafe has free WiFi and most patrons are on their lap-tops.
I would say, go for coffee and a roll and don't expect good service. Just go the counter and order and wait and then take the item to your seat.
It's an easy two block walk to the beach and it's only one block from Garnet Ave. the main street in P.B. -
Review from Tricia W.
San Diego, CA
1/5/2012
The food here is great. The spinach burger is delicious, their various salads are healthy and filling, their coffee drinks and chai latte are yummy, the breakfasts items are pretty good...
The location is perfect, 2 blocks from the beach.
The outdoor patio is a fun way spend a sunny San Diego day eating lunch.
The free wi-fi is a plus and is never down.
Parking's kind of a bitch, but hey...it's PB and that's expected.
So why 1 star, you ask? The service is absolutely, unapologetically atrocious. I have sat for 35 minutes without anyone even acknowledging me. I have eaten there on probably every day of the week, at all different hours. During a rush or when I'm the only customer in the place, the quality of service never changes. My friend and I, anticipating the ridiculously slow service and being in a rush, once had the foresight to call in our order. We arrived 15-20 minutes later, as instructed. We were shocked that we still stood there for about 25 minutes waiting for our food we'd ordered ahead of time. How long does it seriously take to put together a salad?? This place would be my favorite coffee shop if the owner fired all of the current staff and replaced them with friendly, competent servers/baristas/cooks. The fact that this place has 3.5 stars on here, despite almost every review saying how bad the service is, is truly a testament to PB needing some better quality coffee/lunch spots. -
Review from J. M.
San Diego, CA
Very cute cafe in Pacific Beach. My bf & I came here for breakfast around 8:30, and it wasn't busy at all. Service was very quick and the food was great.
Perfect portion of food. Here is what we ordered:
- Popeye Egg Steamer: spinach, mushroom, & feta cheese
- Denver Egg Steamer: chopped ham, tomatoes, green peppers, onions, & cheddar cheese
Both came w/ potatoes & toast. It was a very health meal, not too heavy in the stomach like what you'd get at Kono's. I also got a delicious cup of hot chocolate!
All this for $20. We'll definitely be coming back here, and maybe try their lunch menu or even their acai bowl! Oh, and they also have a great selection of pastries that I'd like to try sometime...yum yum! -
Review from David G.
San Diego, CA
Updated - 12/17/2011 2 photos
Browsing my previous reviews: "How is this place still open? And why does it still have 3.5 stars? Absolutely the worst cafe I've ever been to in my life."
1 Previous Review: Show all »
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9/25/2011
At the risk of going from Foodie to Food Nazi, I right this review. First, the place describes its… Read more »
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Review from Lauren C.
San Francisco, CA
8/28/2011
Honestly, I have mixed feelings about Cafe 976.
Let's start with the pros:
I love having breakfast outside on their lovely patio garden. OF COURSE I want to enjoy my coffee in the always dependable San Diego sun! Especially with my dogs!
If you're vegetarian or vegan, Cafe 976's selection is your friend. Want a veggie sandwich, burger, huevos rancheros, or burrito? OKAY YUM. Want it somewhat healthy? SURE.
And the coffee drink names are CUTE. A banana chocolate latte=funky monkey..etc.etc.
CONS:
The different flavored coffee drinks...don't taste that great.
The service...is terrible. Ummm I asked for water to give to my thirsty dogs about 20 minutes ago. Why are you acting busy? I just saw you chatting up your co-worker 5 min ago! And I had to wait 30-40 minutes for my food, at a non-busy time.
So, there you go. Cafe 976 has a few kinks to work out. -
Review from Christina K.
Irvine, CA
8/5/2011
I give this place 2.5 Stars, but felt semi-bad, so rounded up. I still don't understand why Yelp won't let us give half stars, but whatever, it's not going to kill me.
They get a negative star for having the SLOWEST SERVICE EVER!!! I secretly think all the servers sit in the back writing their memoirs that no one will ever want to publish, and they look up, realize that they are at work, and waltz outside. And, they blame the slow service on the cooks, the baristas, anyone but their lazy selves.
Now, I do have to say that the server we had somehow seemed to hear your requests without ever acknowledging that you spoke, in order to bring out that extra side of sauce or cup of water. So kudos to him (I can't believe I just said kudos, I swear I'm not stuck in the 90's).
My West Coast Burrito was fine enough. Nothing exciting at all about it. What was exciting was the Vegetarian Chili my friend got. It tasted like there was some sweet bbq sauce in it. I wouldn't be able to eat a whole bowl because it was sweet, but a couple bites was good enough.
If you feel like watching the seasons change, or for enough time to pass by that a dog will have chewed off his own leash and start walking up and down the sidewalk (yes, it happened), then you should eat here. Just remember, don't expect to be in and out quickly. Your server will take forever to get to your table. Even longer to bring your drinks. Will disappear for a half hour before taking your order. Avoid you like the plague until your food arrives, half the dishes cold because they forgot to bring them out to you, and vanish into thin air when you are ready for refills or your check.
Just saying...bring your patience, and maybe a book. -
Review from Amir A.
San Diego, CA
9/5/2011
If you have ever seen American Gangster then you know that the main character frequents a cafe where he eats breakfast and reads the paper in peace every morning. This would be that cafe for me. If I had the luxury of living near here as one of my friends does then I would wake up every morning at 7am, throw on my suit, go grab a small breakfast and cup of coffee in their beautiful outdoor seating area down the street from the ocean.
This place is beautiful. It truly takes advantage of the sunny San Diego weather and having a late brunch here was such a great choice. I must have looked over the menu 20 times from front to back because there were so many different items I wanted to eat. I settled on the PB Burrito ($8.50) and my friend the french toast with whipped cream and strawberries ($6?). Both plates were delicious and left me stuffed.
Overall the food was on par with other notable San Diego places like Coffee Cup, The Cottage, Fig Tree Cafe, etc. The ambiance and beautiful outdoor environment was peaceful and really made my meal. The only drawback was the service was a tad slow and I think it was only because I came on a busy Sunday morning. -
Review from Carrie O.
8/26/2011 1 Check-in Here
I ate a quick lunch at Cafe 976 today, and I really enjoyed it! They do lunch specials where you can get half a sandwich (I opted for the garden veggie on sourdough, minus cheese & mayo so it'd be vegan) and a soup or the veggie chili. I got the veggie chili, and I HIGHLY recommend it! It's really delicious, full of kidney beans, carrots, onions, corn (probably other veggies) and topped with fresh onions & cilantro. Yum! The lunch filled me up & wasn't too expensive. The patio is really nice and breezy, and the servers are friendly. My food came out fast, but it did take a few extra minutes to get seated originally. I don't fault them for this, they seemed to be a little short-staffed for how busy the cafe was. I appreciate that they were still friendly and kept good attitudes despite being overworked (it seemed!)
Oh yeah, and the guy sitting next to me at the other table with his girlfriend (or some girl, whatever) was being a total dick to the server. NOT cool, dude. I really really hate it when people do that. So I gave the server an extra large tip for having to deal w/ that guy. He deserved it for putting up with that crap.
I'll be back! :) -
Review from Alex G.
San Diego, CA
8/2/2011
Great location. Next to the ocean, next to garnet, on the corner.
The cafe is basically a historic house which adds to the ambiance. Sit inside, on the deck, or out in the front yard which is shaded with trees and bushes.
Free wifi and I attentive servers. Weekends get crowded though, so be prepared for a little more hustle and bustle.
I tried the Spinach Burger and thought it was fan-freaking-tastic, so check that out if you are looking for something totally different. -
Review from Kait F.
San Diego, CA
8/30/2011 6 Check-ins Here
Meh. I continue to go back thinking I will like it more...but I always run into the same thing. The service is HORRIBLE and the food is alright. The real reason I continue to go here is because my roommate and I work from home so its nice to get out once in a while and it has free wi-fi. I stood in the front for 20 minutes once while no one was in line and no one was there to take my order. I decided to protest and not order a thing but I really want to like this place!
I like the laid back work environment here but the food is just always cold and a little expensive for what you get. I guess that depends on what you order...but not my favorite. -
Review from Nadia C.
Rockwall, TX
5/22/2011
So...its been a while since Ive been out, regardless of going to somewhere I could review. Full-time school AND full-time work can get a little crazy and leave you no time to do anything!
But regardless, the semester is over and now I am attempting to reintegrate myself back into the world of Yelp.
First stop, somewhere Ive never been but pass often, Cafe 976.
I went with my roommate and his sweet squeeze hopefully for a sandwich.
To comment on the atmosphere first, it is a quaint little cottage that I am convinced used to be a residential house that has been turned in to what seems like it would be a really great place to go do homework. I think they could have been a little more mindly about how clean everything was but I suppose that could be overlooked.
I am a much lover of 'soup/salad/sammy' combos so I was really pleased with the fact that they offered it! I shall convey my feelings list style as I feel its the easiest way.
Cons:
-You literally only have 3 choices of sandwich for the sandwich half out of the 20 sandwiches they actually have on the menu.
-The half sandwich was MUCH more like a quarter sandwich. Huh?
-I ordered the BLAT (Bacon/Lettuce/Avocado/Tomato) with no avocado.
-When my sandwich came out, it was served teency tiny on overly toasted sourdough bread with two pieces of bacon and a packet of mayonnaise. I had asked for extra bacon instead of avocado, a request that was granted. My friend also go the BLAT (as it comes) that came with the same amount of bacon as mine. When I asked the waitress about my dang bacon, she curtly responded that she would check with the cook. Her response was that he said he did add extra bacon. Man...I did not even want to argue about it in front of my friends but I was SO aggravated that I had the most measly sandwich EVAR.
-My greek salad was alright. I REALLY did not like the fact that I had to administer my own dressing to the salad. WTH am I paying for here if I have to put together my entire meal? Seriously.
-As far as the soup choices go, there are literally only two choices per day. This day was vegetarian chili and tomato soup. Definitely not great choices. Thankfully I didnt decide to order soup because my friend got the tomato and it looked AND tasted like marinara sauce. Nasty!
-I will say, however, that my white chocolate macadamia nut iced latte was delicious. Good thing I really love coffee because that was really the only thing I liked about my lunch.
Probably not a redo! Good luck everyone else! -
Review from Jessica L.
San Diego, CA
11/2/2011 1 Check-in Here
Cafe 976 is a cute little cottage on the corner of Felspar and Cass. I like to come here and grab brunch on my way to the beach. I always order the Soy Chorizo Burrito, which is really amazing. It has eggs, cheese, soy chorizo, potatoes, and comes with salsa and jalapeno mayo. Its a great way to start the day! The Chai lattes here are also really good. They are the perfect balance between creamy and spicy. I have also had their smoothies which are all right. I had one with strawberries in it and it had way more seeds than normal, plus the downside is that they are pre-frozen smoothies so you cannot switch up any of the smoothie options; however, you do have the option to add soymilk or yogurt.
I would definitely recommend sitting outside when coming here. The inside is usually for those who are studying or just grabbing a quick coffee. On the patio you can people watch and enjoy the ocean breeze. Yay! -
Review from Caitlin S.
Solana Beach, CA
8/30/2011
I come here regularly, and I have to say I'm quite the fan! My favorite breakfast is the Trieste scramble: feta, sundried tomatoes, spinach, and the BEST breakfast potatoes. After a race, or even a night out, this is my go-to breakfast/brunch/lunch spot.
Beware, food service is quite slow. They have an old kitchen so this isn't the place for a "quick bite." If you want a coffee, they have a barista that can whip it up lickity split.
Outdoor seating is available, they're open only for breakfast and lunch, and they have a wide variety of coffee and tea options. If you're looking for meat options, they've got bacon, I think they have ham, and some soy-vegan stuff. For lunch they do have some chicken sandwiches, but I think that's about the extent of it. -
Review from Kat S.
Walnut Creek, CA
8/4/2011 1 Check-in Here
I came here to meet with a friend for a cup of coffee.
I had their frozen blended vanilla and almond coffee and it was soooo yummy.
However the service was slllloooowww. Slower than a snail.
Might come back to try out the food, if I feel like braving the traffic to get to here. -
Review from Brian M.
San Diego, CA
1/3/2012
Would give this place zero stars if I could. I swear they use powdered eggs. Waiter spilled hot chocolate all over my wife and didn't comp it. Then took 20 minutes to bring the bill. Worst meal I've ever had in San Diego.
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Review from Alexis M.
6/9/2011 1 Check-in Here
In all my years of living in San Diego/PB and hanging out at Cass St. right next door, I never stopped into Cafe 976 before.
This past weekend while visiting and hanging out at Cass St. a couple of us went over so we could get coffees/sandwiches.
It's definitely cute. The sandwiches were pretty good. The coffee was pretty good. But the guy working the counter had that "Empire Records" attitude (bonus points if you get the reference). It's like we were lucky to be served by him.
Additionally, they took FOREVER to make one sandwich.
Cute, and if I lived in the area I'd possibly go back for a light lunch and to get some work done, but I wouldn't make a special trip just to come here. -
Review from Thomas C.
5/30/2011 1 Check-in Here
This review is strictly for their mango/pineapple/Banana smoothie.
MEH sums it up.
They even managed to leave nice frozen chunks using a vitamix blender. I wanted to jump back there and make it myself.
Other than that I could see that this place is nice to hang out, read, study, and grab a cup of coffee. -
Review from Cecilia S.
San Francisco, CA
3/21/2011 1 Check-in Here
Brunch on a Sunday morning - it was pretty packed, but I think I really dig the ambiance. The colorful walls bring out a lot of personality. I also love that they support a lot of local artists - paintings, decorative shoes (you'll totally know what I'm talking about once you walk in), photography, etc. The place can seem a bit overwhelming because there's a lot going on, but if you have the time, just sit there and admire the art.
I don't know if I can see myself vigorously working on a paper or assignment here, but I'd definitely do some leisure reading. It also seems like an awesome place to hang out and catch up with a friend over a cup of joe!
As for the food, I had the Sevilla Egg Steamer (eggs, tomato, cheddar cheese & cilantro). It was really delicious - light and fluffy eggs with a perfect blend of all the ingredients. We had been drinking the night before, so this was a great way to start the morning.
I think I remembered reading somewhere that their eggs are only cooked one way - steamed - due to the design of the kitchen. It's a much healthier alternative to scrambled and over easy because they don't use tons of butter and oil. So yay, I'm a fan!
I have not tried any of their specialty drinks, but that just means I'm going to have to visit again! And I must comment, their cups of coffee are HUGE! AWESOME!
And of course, I love that they have outdoor seating. It's right next to the beach, so it just makes me want to sit outside to bask in the sun :) -
Review from Jennifer M.
San Diego, CA
6/15/2011
It is interesting to read few of the other reviews & get a perspective what other people think about this place or what they expect out of it vs what this place really is.
To me this place is strictly a café (or a coffe shop), an awesome location to grab a cappucino/mocha & read an online book, catch on some news, do homework or write your yelp review (like I am doing now).
I can agree that they can do little more work on there food menu & make this place a good food joint but I guess they are happy with what they offer & have offered for a while now.
Not sure if the owners read this review, but if they do with a little revamp of the menu & a decent chef, I could totally see this place another swammies up in encinitas with a long line on cass passed the cass strt bar & grill.. -
Review from Rebecca F.
Los Angeles, CA
5/14/2011
976 is a great breakfast or lunch spot. It is a house converted into a restaurant, with a large patio and garden to sit in. The atmosphere is really nice, though its normally pretty crowded.
The coffee and food is superb, and in my opinion, this place is worth the effort. However, be warned: parking is difficult, finding a table can be a challenge, and sometimes the wait for breakfast is long. But, much of this can be avoided by avoiding main meal times. Try the Yerba Matte Latte, or an Acai Bowl.
The only thing that I actually mind about 976 is that students will come and sit for hours. They take up the seating and don't even buy anything, so paying customers get to wait for a seat. -
Review from Chris J.
San Diego, CA
10/22/2011
Stopped going here a couple years back when they switched from coffeehouse to "please wait to be seated". The latter implies service but they forgot that part. Went again today because the house IS just too cool. Was QUICKLY reminded why I stopped going years ago.
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Review from Mike R.
San Diego, CA
This a great place for coffee, breakfast, and lunch. They are a full coffee shop offering a full selection of espresso drinks as well as a full restaurant offering lots of food options from curry to sandwiches to yogurt fruit bowls. There is about 8-10 tables inside including a nice sun room. Outside, there is a large porch and large outside seating area. The outside area looks like a garden with a variety of plants, flower and trees offering filtered shade.
I highly recommend it if you are in the area. -
Review from L P.
San Diego, CA
10/22/2011
I wouldn't go back to this Cafe. It is in a good location and the ambiance is nice--patio-style, a lot of vines/plants around the walls, but the food isn't great. And part of the floor is uneven which makes half the tables rock when you eat.
I went for brunch both times I have been here, but they don't have typical "breakfast food--" no waffles, pancakes, etc. Half the menu is these things they call egg steamers, which is just eggs they scramble using steam (have no butter/oil) and the other half of the menu is bagels, simple sandwiches (grilled cheese), and granola-type food. For having so many scrambled eggs, you'd think they'd be delicious, but they were just ok and actually felt pretty heavy considering all their hype about cooking without fat. The staff is also just mediocre--nothing special.
Update: I stand corrected. They do have waffles and french toast. I have yet to try them. -
Review from Jenn C.
3/30/2011
I like the atmosphere here. I like that this place is like a house and has a cottage feel. I studied here during law school and for the Bar exam, and would get a coffee and lounge around all day, occasionally snacking.
I remember having a bowl of chili here, but it doesn't stand out particularly in my mind.
