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Cafe Joie - CLOSED
Category: Restaurants Restaurants [Edit]
3231 Mission Blvd(between Island Ct & Isthmus Ct)
San Diego, CA 92109
(858) 488-5900
- Good for Groups:
- Yes
- Accepts Credit Cards:
- Yes
- Parking:
- Street
- Attire:
- Casual
- Price Range:
-
$
- Good for Kids:
- Yes
- Takes Reservations:
- Yes
- Delivery:
- No
- Take-out:
- Yes
- Waiter Service:
- Yes
- Outdoor Seating:
- Yes
- Wi-Fi:
- Free
- Good For:
- Lunch, Breakfast
- Alcohol:
- Beer & Wine Only
- Wheelchair Accessible:
- No
14 reviews for Cafe Joie
14 reviews in English
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Review from Kristin F.
San Diego, CA
4/26/2010 7 photos
A jewel of a find in Mission Beach that, with a few adjustments, could hit the 5-star mark!
Moving forward Cafe Joie will no doubt be our go-to lunch place when my boyfriend and I make the long scenic walk along the bay from our Pacific Beach apartment to Mission Beach and back. Nice menu, cheap prices, lots of character, and friendly service.
I'm such a dork; I can't help but note that the menus--both the online menu and the menus at Cafe Joie--are in desperate need of some proofreading and editing! "Pomme Frits"..."Vinegarette"..."Tomatoe's"..."Bagget"... Banana's"...
We got the hummus plate (just under $7, I think) to start, and the portion of hummus was massive! I ordered the tomato-basil-brie sandwich ($5.95), and my boyfriend decided on the Cuban sandwich ($6.95). Neither sandwich was disappointing, and, thankfully, the sandwiches weren't as bready as they appeared because the bread was really soft. My sandwich was delicious, loaded with brie. My boyfriend's Cuban was equally yummy, heaped with pork.
I wasn't aware that the sandwiches were served with French fries...and I wish they weren't because the fries are like crack! Cafe Joie's hand cut perfectly-crispy-on-the-outside-and-perfectly-tend er-on-the-inside pommes frites were insanely delicious, among the best fries I've had in my life and hands down the best fries I've had in San Diego. (Very comparable to Kennywood fries, Pittsburghers.)
So, why not a 5-star review? "Unkempt" and "overgrown" are words that I wouldn't hesitate to use to describe the patio area and surrounding greenery. There's a fine line between bohemian and messy. A simple stone or brick wall in place of the ratty lattice fence would be a nice investment to separate the cafe's patio from the patio of the apartment complex next door, and some pruning and sweeping would surely do wonders for the place. (I purposely didn't take photos of the unflattering areas.) There's also seating inside and on the Mission Boulevard sidewalk, so during subsequent visits I'll no doubt pass up the rusty patio tables.
Looking forwarding to trying Cafe Joie's acai bowls and more sandwiches! The menu (terrible spelling and all) is interesting, and I have a feeling it'll keep me coming back for more. -
Review from James F.
5/8/2010 2 photos
Kristin F. called this place a jewel with spectacular fries, so we came to check it out. **NOTE**: read the last line of my review.
Big plus points to their staff for being friendly and helpful. While I was expecting a sit-down cafe, it's more quickserve style - they invite you to sit and read their menu, then come back to the counter to order and pay (which is where the coffee orders are also done), then they will bring your food to your table.
However, we came for the fries, and alas: the staff at the counter warned me when i placed my order that they were out of their regular fries, and instead had a poorer, softer imitation of them. boo. but we ordered them anyway, because we came for French fries or Belgian fries or pomme frittes, and we weren't going away until we got some. then later, the server came to inform us that they were now out of their plan B fries as well. boo #2. but they would not only refund us for the fry purchases, they would also give us some other free sides - salad or fruit. good customer service. when another table was informed at the lack of fries, they took their drinks and split (they were also bummed that there was a temporary lack of beer)
when our food arrived, there was a bonus - they did bring us an order of their second tier fries for free so that we could have some. and they weren't that great - too soft and mushy.
Diner #1 (me) got a Cuban sandwich, with fruit on the side (as a substitute). Roasted pork with ham and pickle. This was a winner (as noted in the menu of how people liked it). Tasty tasty roasted pork. they could have piled some more on, but the portion was a decent size.
http://www.yelp.com/bi...
Diner #2 got the tilapia sandwich, and somehow the fish swam out of one half and into the other half. - it seemed only that one half of the sandwich had any fish in it, but the half that had tiliapia was good.
http://www.yelp.com/bi...
Diner #3 got a BLT, which we joked should be called a BLOT or BOLT for the presence of Onions. She took them all out, and there's a reason that the Bacon comes first in the letter order - there was definitely a lot of bacon in here - every bite of sandwich had it. I'd consider that a win, but my mom thought it was too much (and too salty later, although she's salt-conscious.
Cafe Joie has no parking of their own, so probably grab a space on the street or park at the north lot at Belmont Park, just barely diagonally across the street. They take American Express. All food items appear to be made to order, so don't expect your food to be fast.
I did see on their burger menu (grab a separate burger menu from their food menu) that they have turkey burgers. But the Cuban called to me, and I answered.
Important note: one of the staff mentioned to me that Cafe Joie was closing probably within a week. So note the date on my review and go there now, or don't go there at all.Listed in: Dining in Pacific Beach,…
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Review from L A.
San Diego, CA
2/7/2009
A nice escape from the bustling Mission Beach scene.
They have plenty of seating, and when you are tucked away inside their patio, eating your lunch and enjoying a very good house coffee amongst the trees, you almost forget you're sitting on Mission Blvd, across from Belmont Park.
I like that.
P.S: They've got a "bail out" burger deal, $3.99 for a nice restaurant burger, served with hand cut fries :) -
Review from joe b.
San Diego, CA
6/16/2008
Cafe Joie
Pretty cool place , I live right behind here , I am not a big coffee drinker. I like this place i guess to describe it is a panera bakery and Starbucks put together. I prefer to give my money to local business than a corporation (Starbucks ).
Pros
- Right across the street from the beach
- Nice little outdoor patio , indoor seating also
- 4 computers inside setup with printer ( cost money )
- Workers are friendly
- Food was pretty good , Serves breakfast,lunch and dinner
- Drinks are good ( maybe not as good as Starbucks that contains a addictive drugs=)
- Open late 9pm
-Working on getting a beer and wine license (pending )
- Free Wifi
Cons
- Pretty expensive
- Using there computers will cost you $2 dollar for 15 Min's
- Service isn't the fastest but friendly
- Not a big selection for food
If you are looking for a alternative to Starbucks and are bye the beach try this place out for a coffee or food. -
Review from Chuckie f.
San Diego, CA
3/4/2009
This is a cool relaxed place.I like everything i've had here so far.
Plus the workers are always pleasant. -
Review from Kayte H.
Pasadena, CA
8/30/2008
I had a vanilla chai latte and the strawberry banana waffle. The waffle was delicious (although a little undercooked), and seemed to me a great value for the price. The cook brought our food to us herself, and when she got to the table, she commented that she was a little unhappy about this. After I ordered the tea, I never got it, and then when I asked about it when the food came, the cashier/server admitted that she had just forgotten, and gave me one two sizes bigger than what I had ordered.
The atmosphere is OK; there is a row of computers for people to use, and sections for indoor and outdoor seating, but the indoor tables were sort of small and it felt very closed-in. It was an enjoyable breakfast, however, and I liked the restaurant's style of food, which is French-inspired but mostly the health-conscious American breakfast type. -
Review from Paxton F.
San Francisco, CA
5/26/2008
I don't know everything about this place, but I liked everything I saw.
The super polite and cheery barista/cashier mentioned some appetizing facts about the pulled pork that tantalized my mind-tung neurology into the selection of the cuban. I've eaten a lot of cuban sandwiches on my travels, and I have to say that this one is top three. The other two weren't better or worse, just different. This bad boy came with a butt ton of Belgian style fries and cost about $7. Great value for a filling meal.
Joie also had free internet with purchase, which is nice to see. This place gets 4 stars because I've only been there once and can't reliably give 5 in that situation.
Enjoy the food and enjoy the help. -
Review from cynthia s.
San Diego, CA
7/2/2009
This place just isn't good. food was oldish, bland and slow. I have been before for coffee where the barista was nice but this time not so much. I work too hard for my money to be bothered with ify service and less than acceptable food. you can get cafe moto coffee across the street and also better food.
the mission down the road has killer cinnamon toast anyway. and better burritos. so this place is mute. and that stale dining room with a rest room near tables is a sure "I'm a unhappy customer, get me out of Here!" -
Review from Lauren V.
5/20/2009
This place was really cute, had a great location, had great prices and had a lovely little patio.
We happened to be walking along Mission Blvd, in search of breakfast, and approached Café Joie. I had walked by it a dozen times already over the weekend, but due to the name, the awning and cute bistro look, I assumed it was expensive and a dinner-only spot. But plenty of signage out front made it clear that it was more like a coffee house that had a full menu, too.
So we checked out the menu posted outside on the sidewalk (definite points for that) and saw everything from simple bagel sandwiches to yummy looking Belgium waffles with strawberries and cream. There were also a couple traditional English meals on there, including a Chip Buttie (I JUST learned what this was the other day) and Eggs, Beans and Toast. All less than ten bucks. Score.
The barista took our order at the counter and then brought out our plates (actual plates, too, so it really had a restaurant feel, just much more casual and quick) about 10 minutes later. Other patrons sipped coffee and read the paper or worked on lap tops on the Saltillo-tiled patio surrounded by plants and ivy and flowers. It was like a little oasis.
This was the perfect way to end our trip to San Diego with good food, nice outside dining and friendly service - I totally recommend it. -
Review from Sarah S.
8/18/2009
I had the mocha frappuccino and split the half pound burger and fries. The frappuccino was really good, and not super sweet like starbucks', but the prices on the coffees are kind of high. I was impressed with the burger and fries, because they were very fresh and made to order and the burger came with actual toppings, not just a sad piece of lettuce or something. The best part was the the burger & fries was only $8. The pricing seems a little inconsistent, because some sandwiches on the menu are more $ than that and don't come with a side, but the burger was an awesome deal. The atmosphere is kind of European cafe on a budget. The service was average (friendly but not annoying, didn't have to wait forever).
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Review from M K.
San Francisco, CA
9/17/2009
Their iced coffee is 100x better than Starbucks and it's only $2. Can't get better than that.
They are all super friendly too. I bring my annoying little dog and tie her up on the chair. She barks at everyone passing by, yet the staff has yet to make a comment about how her incessant yelping needs to desist. Unlike Starbucks on Mission Blvd... -
Review from Tasha S.
Tucson, AZ
2/25/2009
We had breakfast at cafe joie this morning, looking for a quick bite
Before hitting the road. The menu was simple and offered some nice
Healthy choices, including acai smoothies and bowls. I strayed from my usual egg and potato breakfast and ordered a banana strawberry waffle and a scrambled egg. My husband ordered the smoked salmon scramble.
My waffle more than made up for the lack of atmosphere with its perfect texture and flavor topped with perfect banana slices and strawberries. It was very satisfying, even though I wasn't expecting whipped cream and it was adorned generously with said stuff, I ate most like a hungry 6 year old. The eggs were pretty standard,bordering on greasy, but fine. My man liked his eggs and was impressed that they served
The multigrain toast sans the usual melted spread, instead they brought real butter! My cafe ole was pretty good too. We would have loved to sit out on the cute patio ,but it was unusually cold. I'm guessing it gets pretty busy , but it was quiet today. It was convenient, and fine overall. I would go again for a perfect waffle and next time ill try a smoothie too. -
Review from Alex G.
San Diego, CA
4/8/2009
pretty great alternative to ALL other MB breakfast eateries. if you're on your way to the mission and theres 67,000 peeps hanging outside waiting to get a table might i recommend this place a few blocks away. pretty cheap, good food, good coffee. and attractive employees. . . two thumbs up
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Review from Paul R.
Riverside, CA
2/15/2010
If yelp had negative stars this place would get a solid ten. Yikes this place is about as bad as it gets. The girl at the counter is clueless, the coffee sucks and our breakfast wasn't cooked as ordered. They didn't have strawberries for the waffles as listedon the menu. The breakfast potatoes are french fries. Our bacon was super small and tasteless. We had a http://restaurant.com gift certificate that they didn't honor. The staff was extremely rude as well. We were even overcharged for this mess. Do yourself a favor and skip this place.
