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Mon-Sun. 7:00 a.m. - 12:00 a.m.
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I second Jason B.'s comment "Crest Cafe is not the best nor is it the worst." I've passed by it many times while heading to clubs downtown, wanting to give it a try. Why not? It looks a like a cute baby pink, old school diner!
I finally did after purchasing a Groupon for it awhile back. After yelping it, I decided that it's a pretty popular place to be at. Upon entering, the rumors were confirmed. There was a variety of people dining at Crest Cafe when my boyfriend and I got there. An older crowd, a younger crowd..a big group, a small intimate lunch date, and different ethnicities, too. Everyone looked like they were regulars. Our server was a tall, stylish guy who checked up on us from time to time and slowly but surely refilled our lemon iced tea (FREE REFILLS). Pretty decent service.
We ordered the Butter Burger (medium rare) and the Tilapia Fish and Chips. The burger was cooked perfectly and was incredibly greasy but good. I only took one bite, any more would have killed me! There are a variety of sides to choose from, he decided on the jicima cole slaw. It was..........different. Haha..overall, it was good and unhealthy, perfect for dinner but too much for lunch. Make sense?
As for me, I usually never order fish and chips..but indecisiveness made me go with Daniel W.'s recommendation through Yelp. I was also really craving tarter sauce. Weird....But anyway, ohhh ehmm gee! They give you the whole shebang! It's an entire Tilapia, which means two huge deep fried pieces of goodness. It was a bit too greasy for me but luckily, they provide tomatoes, lettuce and red onions so you don't feel like you're ingesting a pile of fat. Bottled malt vinegar, bottled tarter sauce, fine with me. The fries it came with were unseasoned and soggy but I sprinkled some salt and pepper and they were good to go!
I probably won't be back just because there are so many other options in Hillcrest, and other restaurants/diners closer to home. However, I'm glad I purchased my Groupon for Crest Cafe because I had a fun, little lunch date with the boo!
First, Crest Cafe is not the best nor is it the worst. Our server seemed annoyed that my human eating companion was having problems making up her mind as to what to eat. I think having patience is essential in this type of work especially when dealing with someone who is "mentally unstable." While my companion has not been officially diagnosed by a medical professional as being "mentally unstable," I do have my suspicions. As they say, it takes one to know one.
While at the Crest (breakfast spot # 31), I overheard two other nearby tables ordering the "usual." I glanced over at one of the tables and saw all four people thumbing their phones to death. Here's what was brought to our table:
Midwestern Madness -
http://www.yelp.com/bi...
Hash browns, eggs and bacon -
http://www.yelp.com/bi...
Waffle -
http://www.yelp.com/bi...
After eating, my companion and I retreated to a fairly secluded area of Crest Cafe to openly discuss our dining experience. We both agreed that being in the bathroom at the same time might raise some eyebrows while exiting, so we made it quick. We both felt that everything was average and I was disappointed as I was expecting something with a little more OOOOMPH. Oh well.
While the overall vibe at the Crest Cafe was nice, their (breakfast) food wasn't anything that I'd return for. Maybe I'll come back for a burger. Maybe.
I've been to Crest Cafe several times with friends, always for dinner. It's small restaurant with a decent sized menu. It's always packed with a good "buzz" of conversation.
I've always gotten a burger and they're ok. Nothing to rant and rave about, but also nothing terrible.
The server, while busy tending the entire restaurant, is as attentive as he can be, but this isn't a first choice when it comes to grabbing some food with friends.
I'm surprised to see that there are some fairly negative reviews for this place.
What does this leave me to conclude?
That those reviewers obviously never had the butter burger here. Now I'll preface here by saying that I don't go out of my way to eat healthy, in fact I pretty much don't care for it at all. I possess the metabolism of a 24 year old asian male, I could hypothetically get stoned out of my mind and tear up a Home Town Buffet like your mom tears up your old dirty porno mags and I'd have possibly lost weight in the morning.
The point? Calories are of absolutely no concern to me.
Now back to the butter burger. I won't lie, I have come here quite a few times and this is the only thing I will eat here. I've been tempted to try something else in the past, but everytime my eyes peruse the menu I rationalize that by not ordering this burger I'll be robbing myself of some legitimate pleasure. My girlfriend has had various pasta's, salads, and what not. Couldn't tell you exactly what specifically, but they generally seem pretty good. (I don't eat too much salad, but the salad that I've had here is decent). However what I DO eat, is me some butter burger. What magnificent sentient being has crafted this burger?
We can only postulate at this point, but the butter burger is served with a patty that has obviously been drowned and raped by butter, crispy lettuce and onions (which are essential to compliment the magnificence of the buttery flavor) and some sort of garlic/mayo that at least in my opinion the very essence of the burger. This burger so greasy however that I don't very much like to pick it up with my bare hands, with the exception of the first bite. Totally worth it though to consume the rest of it with a knife and fork because I've never experienced a burger like it. The fries are solid, as you also have the option of swapping them for some damn fine homemade chips.
The downfall of this place though is the parking. I'm strictly a convenience based sort of character, and nothing drives me crazy like having to cruise up and down the street for a spot just to eat a damn burger, or anything else for that matter. Curse you exploding population. Luckily, I don't mind it if I'm not the one driving and that can often be the case and thereby allowing me a pleasant experience at the Crest Cafe.
Frankly, this place is pretty heavy. I wouldn't plan on doing too much after eating here as you are likely to succumb to the inevitable food coma. But if you are unconcerned with your weight and possibly overall health, get in here and eat a butter burger.
One of the few places that is open late and offers pretty good food. I am a fan of their salads (basil dressing is great) and we just tried their turkey enchiladas last night, they were really tasty.
I always have a hard time choosing what I want because of their extensive menu and everything just looks so appetizing.
Service can be hit or miss I've had unbelievably great waiters but last night was pretty mediocre.
I seem to hit the Crest Cafe primarily late at night, after the mid-range options have closed, but more importantly when a nascent hangover is crying for a staunch offset. The Crest Cafe's credo for comfort food makes it one of the better bets in Hillcrest. You'll be paying a bit more, but not unfairly.
As you might guess, I've never tried breakfast here. The dinner entrees are decent, in the 3 to 3.5-star range. I like the fried chicken; others have delivered less.
Where CC really hits their stride is in the sandwiches. I lean toward the hot options, but the cold are fine as well. If you need something substantial to counter the effects of booze, look no further than the turkey-brie, the cuban, or the pulled pork. Laden with cheese, pork, and/or avocado, they will either pull you off the ledge or make your morning all the brighter.
Service is good and professional; parking the usual fifth-avenue crapshoot.
As my quest for the perfect breakfast joint continues, my journey last Thursday took a friend and I to Crest Cafe. While this place ranked fairly well among my fellow yelpers, I noticed a recurring theme...the bitchy ass service. Be it the dark haired hostess or the rude waiter, it seems the highly recommended food is often tainted by awful service. Knowing this, we were a bit hesistant.
Call it luck, but we had awesome service. Quick and friendly, but not over the top. Efficient and attentive. No rude servers to speak of! Score!
The food...it was excellent! We had the Ortega Omelette and the Creme Brulee French Toast. The omelette was tasty but not spicy despite the use of the word in it's description. It was served with hash browns, which were a little too well done for me, and a generous serving of toast. Then came the french toast....Amazing! One word...lots of impact.
It's pretty slow during the week, lots of metered parking, and great service (this time around at least)...that's all a girl wants.
Friday night the roommates and I were looking for some comfort food and first went to Brians. Place was packed. My roommate Cindy suggested we hit up Crest Cafe. I had never been and was willing to give it a shot. I am so glad that we did. I was craving mashed potatoes and gravy, the meal was an after thought. Our waiter was very cool and suggested some specials which included an open faced turkey sandwich with mashed potatoes and gravy. I was sold, but right before I ordered my roommate Matt asked if he could get mashed potatoes and gravy with the French Dip, they said yes and my order changed immediately.
The French Dip was simply average, which is good enough in my book, the Au Jus was awesome and the mashed potatoes were smothered in delicious, decadent gravy. It was like soft, molten, deliciousness and I savored every bite. If you are seeking comfort food, you can do worse then giving Crest Cafe a try. Good food.
We just went to Crest Cafe for breakfast this weekend. There were so many items that I wanted to try, several that were on the weekend menu (and unfortunately it was a Thursday). I settled on the breakfast sandwich (egg whites with whole wheat toast). It was delicoius. The sandwich had a scrambled egg mixture with mushrooms, onions and bacon and was served with hash.
I've read several reviews complaining about the servers and staff. We had a good experience, and friendly staff.
i've been here a couple times and it's always good. sure, probably not the most AMAZING food, but some great things that keep me coming back.
for one, many vegetarian options - you can get any burger with a veggie patty so i think that's great. they also have a pretty good veggie sandwich. that's what i got last night, it comes with fruit on the side. seriously, it's like the equivalent of 3 fruit salads from most places - and includes bananas, pineapple and strawberries, all at generous servings (i am sooo over fruit salad that consists of honeydew, canteloupe, grapes and one strawberry).
they also have really good salad dressings and again, lots of options for what side you get with whatever sandwich you choose. def a fan!
More like 3.5 stars.
This is what we got: Artichoke pasta - marinated artichoke hearts tossed in a creamy wine sauce. With shrimp $14.25 with chicken $13.25.
East Texas Fried Chicken $10.50 - A chicken breast dredged in batter made with garlic, jalapeños, buttermilk and tabasco.
I don't know what I was thinking getting that pasta. It was good, not great, and nothing special. I could have made it at home.
The fried chicken came with a small side of scalloped potatoes that was so good, but covered in yellow cheese. I thought the chicken was tasty but my eatin' partner thought the breading was bland. The jalapenos on it added a little spice and interest.
Service was quite slow.
About 10 minutes after finishing our meals (or part of it) I felt really gross after eating such cheesy, buttery, heavy food. I should have known better!
Portions were big and there was enough leftovers to have another meal the next day!
I would come here again perhaps, to try some other stuff...
I'm a real stickler for first impressions. If you give me stink eye right from the getgo, I don't care really care what you do after....you're on my bad side.
The Twin and I walked in around 7ish and it wasn't packed at all. A waitress was at the counter with her back turned to us and we politely stood waiting to be greeted and sat. We stayed there for an uncomfortable amount of time before saying hello 9 times. Mind you there were BELLS on the door, its not as if we're ninjas. The Twin went and sat herself...she's very independent. When I finally got the waitress' attention, I said, "Oh hi :) Do we seat ourselves or should we wait to be seated?" She responded in her Ice Queen voice, "Well you've ALREADY seated yourself....."
Okay I was a server for most of my working career and I get it, that's annoying, your job is more often than not, annoying and as a direct result of all this annoyingness around you....you're well...annoyed.
BUT I also aware you survive on tips and we just met, this is not how you want to start a relationship that's sure to last at least 45 minutes of your shift.
At any rate, she was cold and rude for the rest of our time there...and if you've read any of my reviews you know that its more about the experience than anything for me.
BUT that being said, the food is CRAZY GOOD. Everything's so fresh and delicious and their dinner/side salad is HEAVENLY.
From the looks of other Yelps, they deliver...soooo problem solved :)
Where to begin?
I've always lived in the neighborhood and always wanted to check this place out.
Well, I recently moved within walking distance of this establishment. I have to say, I was quite impressed.
I've only found one other place in the the local vicinity that has Salmon Burgers. (I only eat seafood, so I don't eat regular burgers). I mean good salmon burgers. Not just a filet of salmon thrown between two pieces of bread.
The salmon burger at Crest Cafe far exceeds the quality of salmon burger at Crazee Burger.
The burger itself was HUGE to begin with. The patty was enormous and was topped with avocado slices. It also came with lettuce, tomato and onion on the side. The burgers are served with your choice, of french fries, and some other options. I opted for fries. Their hand cute french fries and they gave a HUGE helping of them.
I had no idea that I would get as much food as I did for only $10.
As soon as I opened the container, I was instantly impressed with what I saw.
The salmon burger was full of flavor! Absolutely delicious. The fries didn't have salt on them, which was okay with me. They were good just the way they were served.
The staff was quite pleasant as well. I called in my order for pickup. The girl that answered the phone was precise and advised me when my order would be ready.
I showed up and when I walked in the door I was instantly greeted by a server who checked on my food and closed out my bill right away. There was no waiting, or trying to find someone to help me. I was in and out and my food was still hot when I got home.
I definintely will be back for dinner and can't wait to try breakfast!
Oh, and they're open til midnite which is great!
I can not decide what was worse the food or the service. My server was Kent. He seemed very uptight, overwhelmed and pretty much bitter about the job he was doing.
I came in after hearing a lot of great things about the place! I have to wonder did a bunch of people lie to me, or did I hit this dive on a bad day.
As I looked at the menu which I give kudos for the mountain of options. I started with a cup of Coffee. This was strike one I drink black coffee with nothing in it. As I got half way through the what I would say room temperature coffee I had the gift of a sugar packet stuck inside my mug. Trying to understand things happen I kindly pointed it out and got great attitude when I asked for a new cup.
My lunch date looked at me and said wow you pissed him off pretty quick. Silly me I thought perhaps I would get an "I am sorry let me get you another cup" Nope I got Attitude with a capital A.
So I moved on to the Main course and asked for a suggestion of the Cobb Salad or the Billy Burger. I think once again I pissed the server off! So I decided it be best to make my own decision. I ordered up the Billy Burger medium rare with fries and Sarah ordered the BTCA with homemade chips.
So I am chill-axing working on my second cup of coffee without the sugar packet chatting away with my guest. Ouch 2 plates slapped down on the table a bottle of ketchup and Mustard. Apparently we were not going to get offered a refill we were not going to be told to enjoy our meal and we were not gonna be asked if we needed anything else.
My Lunch guest looked at her BTCA with this smile like she was willing to forgive anything! I decided we were not gonna let a tired old bitter server ruin our meal. Sara took one bite of her BTCA and she said it was amazing. I flagged this tall slim guy down for mayo as its a must on a burger that also looked to be amazing smothered in mushroom and onions. I got a snappy what and then proceeded to ask for the mayo.
I smothered my rather wonderful looking bun in Mustard and Mayo I had to use two hands to pick it up. I wanted to love this burger but it was well done I mean really well done I mean it was dry like leather and very well done. I never got a check back from the Server and I had only taken two bites.
Our plates were cleared with no inquiry on how the meal was and there was no offer of desert. All we got was a check. This place was just amazing There was not an ounce of love.
I will not be back even though Sarah said the BTCA was Bomb.
Treat you guests a little better cook the food as requested and perhaps you will have a busier establishment.
I've been here a couple times. Definately comfort food. I don't know about healthy. The onion loaf is awesome, but will put the breaks on any diet! Also had the club and the fries are great!
Everytime I have had their food, I have had it to go. This just in....they deliver! yay!!
Food is awesome BUT...seriously why is the wait staff so darn angry ALL THE TIME?! It seems like this place has so many rules..I always see a sign on the door looking for servers which shows me something too. It's like you aren't allowed to go in there and have a good time - be it as the staff or a customer. The food however great is pricey for my blood. I wish it were cheaper cuz the homemade chips are really good and the tomato basil soup is DEEELISH! I think I'd go in there more if the surly waitstaff didn't rub me the wrong way.
So I'm new in town, but been to San Diego a few times, and generally I would say that SD is full of nice people. I have to say, my server, Wade was AWESOME! He was friendly, kind, thoughtful, anticipated my needs (I got water-which I didn't ask for but surely would have, had I not been given it) I had Cecilia's salad (sp?) only with Tuna instead of turkey. SOOOO Good!! I love love it! I can't wait to order delivery and come visit more. The menu is interesting, and I'm impressed by what they offer. However...
I see that sooooo soooooo many people have bad service here... So I hope that some people turn their attitudes around, and focus on customer service, considering they are working in a restaurant (or own it) I had a wonderful time with Wade, and another male server was pleasant, but had a scary, not so enjoyable moment to hear the notorious 'dark-haired hostess' snap at a couple that came in behind me. They simply asked if they needed to wait to be seated, and got their heads bitten off: "I'll seat you as soon as I clean that table up right there." Like they know!! sheesh. A nice 'Please wait to be seated' sign (where one may see it) and a friendly face might not scare people off. If that were me she said that to, I would have informed her of her superb ability to lose a customer who is more than eager to fully support and promote a great little cafe within walking distance to my house. I simply hope that the crabby pants people cheer the heck up. Or find a new position (in the back...?)
I will be back, thanks to the good food, Wade, and the positive thinking that my next experience will be better!
OK... This is my favorite comfort food in all of San Diego. I have literally tried almost everything here and it has always been fabulous.
I am THRILLED that they deliver now. It only took 20 minutes to arrive to us in North Park - fabulous.
FOOD HIGHLIGHTS: Cheese Butter Square, all the hamburgers, club sandwich , bread pudding, spinach salad, honey - jalapeno dressing, etc...
PLEASE, DON'T EVER STOP DELIVERING CREST!!!!
I've ordered food from here once and ordered to go once. Both times it was just average. They do have a great deal of vegetarian items, which is always nice. Love the atmosphere; really comfortable benches. The service could be faster, and the server could definitely be nicer.
I'll probably come back, because it's nice how late their open. But it won't be something I'll be craving often.
Butter burger!!!!
Buttuhhhhhhhlicious! Ok, so it doesn't taste like butter, but it tastes so good you wouldn't believe its not butter!
I don't eat burgers much, but I kinda get in 'Wimpy-mode' (remember him from Popeye?) when I think of it. I haven't really tasted anything else these guys make, but you can't go bad with this order. It's a simple, non-pretentious, tasty burger. Yum.
Oh, and if you're ever thinking about going to comfy diner, and are choosing between City Deli and this place...I'd go here.
'Twas a night like many other as a man and myself stumbled the streets, red eyes slightly ajar. Fantastic visions of juicy burgers dripping in cheese forced us onward; that, and more, which we likely would not find our sleepy, retired town.
A light appeared.
'What's that?' I winced upward.
'Crest Cafe!' sung my hero. Plus one star for neon signage.
Starving, and in need of escape from the hot sex air billowing from Brass Rail's windows, we entered The Crest, took a seat, and opened our menus.
'Fat kid food!' we cheered in unison.
Suddenly our eyes opened. We unfolded our nappies and tucked them at our chins. Our posture improved. Proper adult behavior if I ever judged.
Jalapeno poppers, in case you haven't heard, are considered a delicacy among fat kids, and those who imitate their eating habits ('posers'). One please.
Like hawks, we swooped, scooped and swallowed those iguana eggs with fervor. There were some fresh tomatoes and cucumbers on the plate which I politely discarded under our table. I drank the side of ranch.
Since we were clearly on a mission to get fat, it made most sense to order the Butter Burger. Upon first bite I believed in God for a solid 10 seconds before a fresh fried potato chip caught my eye. The burger had just the right fat content, served rare and juicy, smothered in sharp cheddar cheese on a soft roll. I'm guessing that herb butter played a role in both the burger's namesake and dynamic flavors; tarragon, basil and a garden of greens are mixed right into that fatty patty. Where the hell else in town can you mack down at midnight leaving an impenetrable trail of beefy-cheesy-buttery-herby self-destruction in your wake? If you know of another place, do share.
A little pricey, but hey, at least Crest Cafe doesn't make obesity a convenience like so many other food places. Hats off, belts loosened, button popped and zipper down 1/3 of the way. Leave Crest Cafe feeling high.
I'm definitely not coming back here again even though their breakfast menu is really tempting. I decided to come here for a late lunch with the DB and roomie to use a groupon we got a while ago. DB had the Crest Burger (Jalapeño peppers & jalapeño cheese) with a veggie patty. He said it was delcious but really hot! And you know what goes great with spicy foods? LIQUIDS! ... but we'll come back to that... The roomie had East Texas Fried Chicken (A chicken breast dredged in batter made with garlic, jalapeños, buttermilk and tabasco). He liked it but I didn't think it was too impressive. The breading was similar to tempura breading which I didn't like (but the roomie did). The chicken was incredibly moist and delcious! I just didn't like the breading and didn't think there was much "garlic, jalapeños, buttermilk and tabasco" flavor. The mashed potatoes that came with it were delicious! I was so jealous and stuck with fries. The fries were NOT crispy - but I like squishy fries anyways. But I don't like potato skin and the fries do have a little but of potato skin so it was me trying to pick out skinless fries. I'm not sure if you're allowed to substitute the sides but I personally think the mashed potatoes are much better. To be fair though - DB thought the fries were awesome. I had their Butter Burger which tastes like a regular burger around the edges and then POW-SPICES! in the middle. It was tasty in a novelty-food kind of way. Even though half the burger's weight was probably greasy butter, they do take your health into consideration and use lean ground beef - so considerate! And you know what goes great with burgers? A nice cold coke - in a little glass which makes you feel like your glass is already half way empty even when it arrives full. I wouldn't have cared if the waiter was on it with the re-fills but this place has the worst service! After DB and roomie got their first refill for iced tea and lemonade, the waiter IGNORED their empty glasses that were sitting on the table out in the open where he could see them. When the food arrived, I had already finished my coke and was prepared to ask for a re-fill but the waiter practically ran off before I could even get a word out. The waiter never even came back until he began to gather empty dishes and was ready to sprint off again but ah-ha! I quickly requested a re-fill of coke before he could get away. I slid my empty glass of coke right over to the other empty glasses and he took my empty glass, not even asking DB and roomie if they wanted re-fills, and ran off again. Even if you were THAT stingy about refills, you could at least offer water. So when I got my glass of coke back, it turned into the community beverage because DB was dying from his really spicy burger, and roomie was just plain thirsty. So... I was completely unimpressed with the service, and honesty, the food here isn't anywhere near amazing enough that dealing with such crappy service would be worth it. But they've got that problem figured out for you because they deliver. Yay?
And I know we weren't the only ones who received crappy service because an old woman next to us wasn't treated any better. There was a mix-up with her order and I must say that the way the waiter handled it was really condescending (and she was such a cute little old lady too!).
Visited a couple of weeks ago with out-of-town friends that I introduced to Crest Cafe and love(d) it as much as I do. Food was great as usual, but the dark haired hostess was flat out RUDE. She's been a bit snippy in the past, but she out did herself this time. Unfortunately, I fear that she might be part owner, since she's there everytime I visit (always weekend mornings)...I hope that's not the case. She needs to drop the attitude, 'cause she's pissed off some former fans.
Had another great breakfast this morning. The Angus Beef Hash was great and the Tuscan Breakfast… Read more »
Comfort food at its best, especially if you're not feeling good. I was in a lot of pain due to my foot injury & after gettin out of a doctor's visit my boyfriend and I decided to have Linner there and we loved it, it even made me forget about my foot pain.
As always, their food its delicious, our favorites are the Mac and Cheese and their tortilla soup and the tuna melt is my personal favorite, we wanna go there over and over. Parking is tricky. Oh and try their desserts, you'll feel soo good after =)
This is one of my favorite comfort breakfast food places in Hillcrest. Their fruit plate is always good with lots of fresh fruit. I love their cottage cheese and tomatoes too! When I am in the need of a cure from a late night, I always get The Hangover with a strong cup of coffee! The only downside is their customer service is a little lacking and they never like to refill your glass especially when it's water.
The Crest Cafe is awesome! When you are in need of comfort food with a little bit of flare, Crest is the place to go. Plenty of vegetarian options. My favorite is the soup with 1/2 sandwich, 1/2 salad. I go for the veggie chili, veggie sandwich plus house salad. Mmmm!
Breakfast here is good, too. I like the quirky diner feel.
This place is fun and a great place to meet a friend or for a casual date. Parking can be tough, so just be prepared to circle the block once or twice.
Cheers!
I think I have been here about 3 times now. Once for dinner, and twice for lunch. I think the sandwiches here are superb. When I think deli, I think grilled sandwiches, and this place has some awesome ones. On my last visit, I had the turkey with brie sandwich and it was out of this world.
My biggest complaint? The fries. Limp, not a single bit of crispiness...ick. Ick, ick, ick. On every occasion they were like this, you would think I would have learned not to get them by now. So yeah, pick a different side-dish and you'll be golden.
I've never had an issue with the service here, it has always been pleasant for me.
Crest Cafe a Hillcrest institution could have gotten all 5 stars except for two things that hasn't changed in the past 5 years I have been in San Diego. I didn't like the waiter/maitre'd that showed us to our seats. First he seemed cranky and then motioned me to follow him to the table by waving his finger on the side below his waist. I think that odd since I know how to follow instructions and especially for such a small place.
The second reason, Crest can never get a 5 star rating for me is the pews/benches are very uncomfortable. If I wanted to sit in Church I would attend one.
But back to the service and food. The service was fairly good and attentive but for small details. I did not have salt and pepper on my table and I had to ask for water (I know water conservation and all but seriously, a glass of water please - even though I ordered coffee) I ordered the belgian waffle with the side of bacon and hash browns. My friend ordered an omelette. He was happy with his and ate all of it. As you can see from my other reviews, I don't like eating and talking because I end up talking more and eating less. I finished the nice crispy bacon and ate part of the hash browns, I tend to only finish the fried part on top. Of course the belgian waffle was a surprise, it came with cut bananas and nuts (no pun intended).
Overally, its still a nice neighborhood place, early its busy on a Sun morning, by noon and after, less people in the restaurant which meant a shorter wait.
If the Celia's Chopped Salad was a man I would date it.
My boss took me out here for lunch today. Just a short walk from the office. We walked in and it's cute and cozy inside more of a diner deco.
Not a lot of people in the restaurant for being lunchtime on a weekday. My Boss said it's usually packed.
Our cute waiter with the dimples was nice and attentive and gave great suggestions. There were 4 of us and all of us ordered a different salad.
We were all very happy with our selections. My co-worker said they are known for their comfort food but I think their salads are very tasty and I would totally go back.
I had the spinach salad with chopped turkey, jicama, mangos, apples, Gorgonzola cheese, cranberries and the basil vinaigrette. It was perfect. It totally reminded of my favorite salad from Andiamo's in Sacramento.
My bf and I were staying in Hillcrest for the weekend. We had no idea where we were, and where to eat. It was ten pm so there were limited of restaurants open. We walked around Hillcrest and found that everything was absurdly over price.
We finally stumbled upon Crest Cafe. I was hesitant at first because I thought the menu was going to mimic the decor, boring cafe like food. Even though I was unimpressed by the decor I saw that the menu was not completely boring. I ordered the Curry Chicken Salad; the chicken curry had thinly slice carrots, thin slice almonds and cilantro on a bed of lettuce. I kid you not; there was a pound of chicken curry in there. It was so good and the portion was huge. I couldn't finish it; I took home what look like a full order.
My bf ordered the club sandwich with French fries. The sandwich was so big that he only finished half (he normally has a very hardy appetite). He thoroughly enjoyed the sandwich as well.
The restaurant closes very late which is good too.
I give it three stars because I felt like it could have been cheaper and the service was okay.
Sunday morning heading to the farmers market, plan was to hit up Einstein bagels and move on, we turned the corner and hubby sees the words "comfort food" or something to the likes and plans changed.
The menu outside has several yummy sounding options and is relatively crowded for 9am in Hillcrest so we figure it's gotta be good.
The place is small and looks like 1980's south beach possible came here and died but whatever we are quickly seated in some really cool church like seats. Coffee is brought quickly waiter is not fake nice (they get a star just for that). The flavor of the coffee is run of the mill diner grade with a splash of bitter, I was expecting it to be better since the menu is obviously geared toward people who know and love food.
So much on the menu to drool over hubby cant decided but the waiter is there and I am ready, the waiter rather cockily suggests the breakfast quesadilla stating it is the only thing on the menu worth ordering and what happens next makes my jaw drop... hubby actually gets it, he never does that, (I think once we almost left a restaurant for that same reason). I am like well great so is my food gonna suck now since apparently he just got the only good thing, I waiver for a moment but then move on and get the pancakes with lemon and ricotta cheese mixed in with fresh fruit on top.
Hubby's food is good but they serve it with an avocado/cilantro green sauce that turns the ho-hum into serious amazingness (I went home later that day to recreate it but forgot to buy avocados so it ended up being chimichurie sauce LOL) it kinda reminds me of a kicked up version of the avocado salsa at el polo loco
My pancakes have a great melt in your mouth consistency and the fruit is really fresh, my only complaint was that I couldn't taste the lemon at all and still not really sure if it was worth paying extra for.
All in all everything was really fresh and had good flavors (except the coffee). There are several other breakfast items that peeked our interest so we will be going back and eating our way through it.
Ate breakfast here - yum! Enjoyed the Veggie Breakfast Mess!
I know that it's a healthy place... but I did not enjoy that they only had non-dairy creamer or 2% milk for coffee (in fact I sent it back and ordered an ice tea.) They add various cheeses to the dishes... why no half & half for my coffee -- or at least whole milk? My friend enjoyed her hot tea, but I found their ice tea to be rather weak...more like iced water with tea essence.
I think I ticked off the waiter when I returned my coffee (untouched, while he was still standing there) and asked for ice tea instead. He held a slightly holier-than-thou attitude for the remainder of our visit.
I'd go back... it was very tasty food. I'll have to get my morning Cuppa Joe elsewhere either before or afterwards though.
I live here in Hillcrest and Crest Cafe is a complete staple for this town! I absolutley love it! The thing that keeps it from a 5 star is something everyone else has also touched on, the pews! Like one other reviewer said, if I wanted to sit at church, I would go to church! They are a lil uncomfortable, so I usually try to ask to be seated at a table with chairs. Also, I know this is a personal opinion, but I do not like OJ with that much pulp, our mimosa's were filled half way with the pulp, yuck!! Although, I didn't ask if they had non-pulp OJ either, I don't like to be picky.
But I have been to this place several times, it is a weekend staple for me and I love to bring new people here all the time. The menu choices are eclectic and plenty! I have a hard time choosing what to eat as I just want everything on the menu almost. Their Mac n Cheese is amazing! It has bacon and jalepeno's! So delicious! Their Hangover Omelet is to die for! Although, I would avoid getting the potato's for the side as they have nothing to them and are very bland. I loved their chicken pot pie... Pretty much everything on their menu is amazing, my boyfriend had the butter burger one time and he thought it was absolutley delicious!
I do like the atmoshpere of an eclectic diner, it is great. The staff is very friendly, and I have never had bad service. I do love this place and wil continue to come back again and again!
POOR QUALITY FOOD
no wonder you don't have any customers
Thanks for your reply Kent. I hear you stopped charging a $1.00 for a slice of lemon. that's a start....higher quality food is my suggestion.
Nice little diner/cafe in Hillcrest. Been here many a time after pondering all the ethnic places and deciding to have a down-home, artery-clogging American eating experience, instead. Good burgers, great fries and desserts -- love the flourless chocolate cake a la mode. Thursday is half-off dessert night... Enjoy!
I have to start by saying that the food is EXCELLENT! BLTCA, Balboa and Butter burgers, creme brulee french toast, honey jalapeno dressing, and too many more to name are some of the best comfort foods I've ever had. That said....Ive never eaten at a more pretentious, condescending, and CHEAP establishment in my life! First off there is the list of rules on the back of the menu: 1. No Sharing (extra charge if you do) 2. Water with lemon $1.00 3. Make-it-Yourself Lemonade $2.25 (don't even get me started on the legal definition of MIY Lemonade) 4. Maximum of two credit/debit cards per table 5. If more than 1 card is used then minimum $10.00 charge on both. The only reasonable rule is no separate checks. Too bad the owners care more about the 5 cent slice of lemon than customer satisfaction. The servers simply smile and nod whenever you mention the unreasonable rules and simply say enforcing the rules is their job. Too bad such good food is ruined by such cheap service!
There's something about ending a night of barhopping at a diner. The closest feeling that comes close is when you think you're going to sneeze but then you don't. Anyway. I'm glad this place was open until midnight unlike other diners that close at around 10-11.
The place was kind of lonely but it was late on a Tuesday night. I guess people have to work the next day or something. Since my friends and I were the only people there the service was great! We all ordered burgers and the wait was no longer than 10 minutes.
I ordered the Crest Burger which was topped with tons of jalapenos. Surprisingly, the burger wasn't that spicy. Not that I minded. The burger was huge and definitely worth the deal. The fries were great as well. They looked and tasted like In N Out fries except they were bigger. Which is something I wish In N Out fries were.
All in all, I'd recommend this place. I'd been here for breakfast before and that was great too. But alas, another story for another time.
It's really only OK when you consider the price, appalling service, and plethora of other great restaurants in San Diego. The waiters seem to enjoy being rude, like it adds a fun flavor. It does not. The food is generally good, but it's still basically a diner. A very overpriced diner. For a better burger, I'd go to Lucky Bucks. And for a far superior brunch, you can't beat Parkhouse Eatery.
If you order water with lemon they will charge you $1 without telling you and look for any reason to charge extra.. Very stingy. Some of the waiters seem very cranky, one of the waitresses actually yelled at me because I didn't show her my 20% off coupon at the beginning of the meal.
The food isn't bad but why be so rude and tight when that's how you lose customers? We wanted to make it a regular hang-out but it wasn't worth it... now we go to City Deli who are always generous, food is consistently wonderful and the wait staff actually like the customers.
Looks like I've found another restaurant to add to the normal weekend brunch rotation. I'd been to Crest Cafe a few times before only for dinner, and was impressed with the menu offerings available for brunch! Had the Mediterranean omelet and loved it, but didn't love the breakfast potatoes as much because they were a little bland. Others in the group enjoyed the breakfast sandwich and the vegetarian mess, which was more of a bowl with the vegetarian chili, potatoes, cheese, and peppers.
The service was decent, but I have had some abrupt and surly waiters here in the past.
I'm looking forward to coming back to try some of the other creative brunch options!
Neighborhood: Pacific Beach
Category: Mexican
Neighborhood: Hillcrest
Category: American (Traditional)
Neighborhood: Hillcrest
Category: American (New)
San Diego, CA
Category: American (Traditional)
San Diego, CA
Category: Breakfast & Brunch
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