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John's Ocean Beach Cafe
Category: Restaurants American (Traditional) American (Traditional) [Edit]
2898 Sloat BlvdSan Francisco, CA 94116
(415) 665-8292
- Hours:
Tue-Sun 7:30 am - 3 pm
- Good for Kids:
- Yes
- Accepts Credit Cards:
- No
- Parking:
- Street
- Attire:
- Casual
- Good for Groups:
- Yes
- Price Range:
-
$
- Takes Reservations:
- No
- Delivery:
- No
- Take-out:
- Yes
- Waiter Service:
- Yes
- Outdoor Seating:
- No
- Wi-Fi:
- No
- Good For:
- Breakfast
- Alcohol:
- Beer & Wine Only
- Noise Level:
- Quiet
- Ambience:
- Casual
- Has TV:
- No
- Caters:
- No
- Wheelchair Accessible:
- Yes
About This Business:
Claudine is a casual eatery and wine bar, gourmet pantry serving seasonal, globally inspired fare crafted with local ingredients by acclaimed chef… read more »
125 reviews for John's Ocean Beach Cafe
Review Highlights
"It was the best eggs Benedict I ever had."
(in 19 reviews)
"my husband loves the corned beef hash too."
(in 4 reviews)
"I got the chicken apple sausage scramble."
(in 2 reviews)
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125 reviews in English
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Review from Jackie M.
San Francisco, CA
2/4/2012
Great Blueberry Pancakes!
The two people I went with both got omelettes which were interesting, but not the best they've had. More for the adventurous eater type.
This place really likes to load on the onion on their omelettes so beware!
Service was great and the decor was really festive! -
Review from Allie B.
San Francisco, CA
10/24/2011
We loved their banana walnut pancakes.
Husband got a steak special which was really good too.
Place can get a little hot, and the furniture is a bit old. But decor is interesting. Enough room for our stroller. Staff was friendly.
Accept only cash though.
Walking distance to the zoo and beach. -
Review from Charlie G.
San Francisco, CA
10/4/2011 1 Check-in Here
It doesn't look like much from the street, but inside friendly people and good food await you. I recently visited the SF Zoo with a young lady and a much younger lady, and after our day exploring the animal kingdom we stopped in here for lunch. I am so glad we did!
My older friend got a burger, which came adorned with a burger-patty-sized slice of heirloom tomato. The pickles were housemade and spicy--a nice zing to them.
I had a chicken-apple-walnut salad with crumbled blue cheese that was absolutely fabulous.
Our young miss had a lovely grilled cheese sandwich.
Everything was really good, and our server treated us to a fruit plate that had several kinds of fruit that looked and tasted like it just came from the farmer's market.
The decor is a bit dated, but the old movie posters are fun and the food is fresh. Definitely recommended if you like basic short-order food at its best. -
Review from Miguel V.
12/14/2011
Meh, basic diner food. Nothing impressive or horrible. I usually expect a bit more from diners for breakfast though. Got their chorizo omelet. The eggs were way overcooked and brown. Not a good start. Fellow diners enjoyed their food. We also shared a fruit place, which was just okay, not the ripest or freshest though. I wouldn't go back just because if a place serves me burnt eggs I have to seriously question their culinary skills. The potatoes were really good though. tasted nice and buttery.
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Review from Ashley I.
San Francisco, CA
9/7/2011
This place reminds me of a slice of home. I grew up near the beach my whole life in Los Angeles and this place gives me the vibes of cafes near my old house. It's gets the 5 stars for a few reasons:
1) Ambiance is reflective of a real beach cafe
2) Elvis and a Butch Cassidy and the Sundance Kid poster
3) Waitress giving me an honest opinion of the food
4) Coffee was made strong and my friend and I got a fresh pot
and most importantly
4) REAL corned beef hash. Not the crap in the can (although in a pinch I will eat that, too)
I love corned beef hash. I would eat it every day if my heart would stop working at 30. I haven't had real corned beef hash at a restaurant in years. The place I used to get it from in LA started serving the canned kind after a couple of years and that was 2 or 3 years ago. It's been a long time finding a diner with the goods and I will be a loyal customer to the end if they keep it up. -
Review from Jill M.
Sacramento, CA
6/18/2011
Good food and good service. Where else can you leave your cell phone on the table and have your waitress literally run outside and down the street looking for you?
The decor is definitely due for an overhaul, but it was clean.
We will definitely be back next time we're in the area. -
Review from Jessica F.
San Francisco, CA
11/3/2011
An amazing little neighborhood breakfast spot. I had an omelet with fresh veggies and avocado that was delicious and a friend had eggs Benedict and the banana pancakes. I can honestly say that they were the best pancakes I have ever tasted! They were so good we almost killed ourselves by ordering a second short stack. It was very down home, inexpensive and welcoming and the beach is only a couple blocks away. A must stop if you live in or are visiting the outer sunset!
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Review from Tatiana D.
San Francisco, CA
5/31/2011
A complete five stars for the banana walnut pancake alone. We had Mother's Day breakfast here and I'm still thinking about those damn pancakes. I'm not even a pancake person. I wouldn't use the word 'fluffy' to describe it, it's just...perfect! You can get a single pancake, short stack of 2 or a full stack (is that what it's called?) of 3. One day, I will be zealous and go for three.
The decor is cool. It's old timey movie poster stuff you'd find in your parent's garage or attic if your house is cool enough to have one. Depending on where you're sitting, there is a bit of a musty attic smell but that did not deter me from enjoying my pancakes! Parking is not too bad if you get here early enough for breakfast, by 10 am. And yes, they serve mimosas here. -
Review from M C.
San Francisco, CA
Looking at the reviews and what I got, I really don't see what people are seeing. The place wasn't that clean and the table we got were for midgets, kept hitting my knee against table leg.
The eggs weren't very flavorful and the pancakes looked kind of under-cooked. The good part was that parking was only around the corner. And we got seated within minutes, compare to other places.. -
Review from Joshua N.
Santa Ana, CA
5/4/2011
A+ breakfast. I love this place, never crowded and service is always friendly and prompt. Highly recommend any of the eggs Benedict dishes they have; they are all awesome. Daily benedict specials including lobster, crab, duck and other delicacies, depends on what day you go. Great hash browns too.
Get the banana walnut pancakes, whether your hungry or not, you won't regret it. Best I've had. Great almond butter comes on it.
Nice large cappuccino servings make to order. Nice cafe atmosphere to end a good meal. The establishment is decorated with vintage historical pop culture icons, creating a nice vibe.
Check it -
Review from Phil H.
San Francisco, CA
5/13/2011 2 Check-ins Here
The sun begins to break through the fog as you stroll into this pleasant San Franciscan establishment. The first thing you notice is the dey-cor, this place is stuck in the 70s, but the food is delish-tastic.
Personal favorites:
Chicken Apple sausage scramble
The eggs benedict
Banana walnut pancakes
One of the best places for breakfast in SF and THE best in the sunset.
-1 star for the dated ambiance. The service and food is top notch.
Our server was extremely friendly and loved talking of times past, reminiscing when OB still had play land and when sutro-baths was still operating.
Time machine. -
Review from Eric J.
Orinda, CA
10/13/2011 1 Check-in Here
Love the atmosphere and the food. They have good selection of egg dishes that have eclectic combinations of veggies and cheeses(like feta spinach and olives). This one is a true hidden gem in the Sunset. They wait for hours for this kind of food in the Mission or Pac Heights but John's never seems to have a wait. LOVE IT!
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Review from Zach Q.
San Francisco, CA
11/2/2011
OMG! This place belong on Hell's Kitchen Nightmare. A totally gross, old, dirty place with horrible food. I ordered breakfast...an omlette with bacon.
Two bites in and I could taste the ingredients were sour and bad. The smell was horrific.
The food had a spoiled look and taste to it. Luckily, I drank my coffee and got the hell out of there.
The only good thing about this restaurant was the nice waitress who's originally from Los Angeles. She was really nice but the food was disgusting.
Gordon Ramsey Jr. -
Review from Seth G.
San Francisco, CA
3/3/2011
Look people...
John's is run down. The seats are ripped. The place looks like its in shambles. The hours are weird. Cash only... the list goes on.
But what this place lacks in charm, it makes up for in scrambled eggs. That's the order... don't order anything else.
SCRAMBLED EGGS WITH A LITTLE BIT OF CHEDDAR PEOPLE!! take our advice.
My roommate and i go to johns every now and then, i'd say about 3-4 times a month. By now the "wacky" waitress knows our order and and usually has it out within about 15-20 min of sitting down. You need to go during the week and NOT ON THE WEEKEND. It gets a little bit weird on Saturdays/Sundays... straight out of a twilight zone episode.
Just go. Scrambled eggs... go
....
GO! -
Review from Yvette F.
San Francisco, CA
4/2/2011
My partner loves the zoo. Every few months, when the sun is out, we have to go to the zoo to get her fix. But before we even get there, we always grab a bite here, right across from it. So today, on our afternoon off work, we did the usual stopover en route to the zoo. And as usual, the food here did not disappoint. I ordered the Western scramble with bacon and mushroom with English muffins. Everything was what I hoped it would be: crispy bacon, plentiful fresh mushrooms, well toasted and buttered muffins. My partner also enjoyed the Apple sausage scramble very much. We also both ordered iced tea and we got 2 pint glasses filled with ice and a carafe of tea. It's such a great Idea! We get to pour as much or as little as we want on our glasses to balance out the melting ice.
Well, what else can I say, "we'll be back!!!" -
Review from Eric H.
Concord, CA
6/26/2011
In a word...YUM!!! No trip to SF is complete without a trip to John's. Love the colorful staff, LOVE THE FOOD, love the location, love the ambiance too.
Minus one star cuz it's so damn far away! -
Review from Erica L.
Daly City, CA
5/24/2011
Eggs Benedict was great!
Lady there was super nice, even though were were the only other table there on a wednesday morning. -
Review from Rodger B.
Sacramento, CA
8/30/2011
This place is unique, it is the diner that time forgot. It reminds me of places I ate with my grandparents as a small kid. Lots of breakfast choices. The design is unintended retro-chic. They don't take credit cards, but they do have an ATM machine. Its a nice place to visit before hitting up the SF Zoo, the wait staff is a little slow but you won't mind the wait.
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Review from Michelle F.
San Francisco, CA
2/13/2011
Went here with a friend after free Zoo day. We always drove past John's and wondered how it was, as we love breakfast. We walked in, discovered it was cash only and grumbled a bit but luckily they have an ATM inside.
My friend ordered the salmon eggs benedict, and I ordered the apple sausage scramble. Our waitress was a little funky, but seemed sweet, and tried to push a fruit plate on us. All of this doesn't really matter when the food is awesome.
My friends egg benedict was "decent" and came with lots of potatoes.
My scramble, which consisted of according to the menu "jack cheese, onions, chicken apple sausage, avocado, and a little sour cream" was not decent. The chicken apple sausage was cold, the eggs were extremely watery, avocado was brown, and the entire thing was covered in uncooked onions. Not to mention the cheese tasted more American than Monterey Jack.
I had to force myself to eat bits of it, and luckily I had some potatoes. Looking at the reviews I should have gotten pancakes, but I figured, how can you mess up a scramble? Just found out. -
Review from B D J.
Fair Oaks, CA
8/25/2011
Blueberry pancakes are amazing, and I'm not a pancake person. The decor is funky, but the food & quick service more than make up for it. I'm from Sacramento & we plan our road trips to include a visit to John's every chance we get.
I believe they stop serving breakfast at 2, and are closed Monday's. -
Review from Ris L.
San Mateo, CA
2/25/2011 3 photos
What a surprise!
I went into this restaurant not knowing what to expect. I was looking for some egg benedict around home and decided to give this place a try. WOW, the food is SO GOOD! It's a zillion times better than a lot of the over-rated brunch places in the city.
I ordered the banana walnut pancake. $5.50 for two giant pancakes! And you would think they just served the dish with original pancakes and topped them with pieces of sad little bananas and walnuts right?WRONG!They actually cooked the bananas and walnuts into the pancakes!WOOHOO it tasted SO GOOOOOOOD!
The bf ordered the special recommended by the waitress which was poached egg with spinach,beef,harsh,tomato,onions and cheddar. LOL what a name!Anyway his dish was REALLY GOOD as well. Basically they pan fried all of the ingredients and topped them with a lot of cheddar!I was in cheese heaven! And the poached egg was cooked to perfection with runny egg yolks. WIN!
Of cos there's no decor of whatsoever in this place.But you come here for the food! Not a big fan of sandwiches but I am going to be a regular for their breakfast dishes. -
Review from Joseph A.
San Francisco, CA
8/13/2011
In a nutshell.... I've lived in the Sunset since 1996, went there maybe 3 to 4 times because I lived a few blocks away... each and every time, I got very good food but borderline rude service... I'm a nice guy and a damn good tipper @ 20% + due to me being an industry dude.... Sorry John... end of story.
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Review from PictureGirl F.
Oakland, CA
6/20/2011
Stopped in here for some breakfast before heading to the zoo with my friend and her son. When we first approached I have to admit I was a bit put off by the way it looked inside. We actually thought it was closed. Our tummies were growling, so we gave it a try. The food was amazing! The banana walnut pancakes are the most unique and tastiest pancakes that I have ever had! The blue cheese, bacon, tomato, and onion omelette was wonderful also. This place is a bit out of the way - but worth it. The waitress was super friendly and attentive. I will definitely be back!!
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Review from Espana S.
San Francisco, CA
10/19/2010 3 Check-ins Here
No frills diner, which is right up my alley. The decor and location are a bit dive-y but the food is very good and the ingredients fresh, you can tell they take pride in their fare. The blueberry pancakes were delicious.
Also a very friendly spot, the waitress was chatty and fun and the guy working on something outside (painting or sanding, not sure) popped in to let me know it might get loud, in case I wanted to move to a different table.Listed in: Noms
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Review from jazzy l.
San Francisco, CA
10/5/2010
We came here after the doggie park.
Dumpy diner cafe but the food is moderately priced. Got an egg sandwich with bacon and cheese on toasted wheat bread. Love the comfort food. I loved how the waitress asked exactly what item I wanted on my sandwich.
Plenty of street parking -
Review from Alison Y.
San Francisco, CA
3/20/2011 1 photo
Yum! Tried this place today as it's just a few blocks around the corner from my new home. This place looks like it's a hold-over from the late 50s and so it's not the most shiny/comfortable place- but hey, they have a GIANT painting of Elvis in the corner and an even more giant picture of John Wayne on the wall... with those two looking over your meal, it's all good. That said, the waitress did say they're getting new booths soon... excellent, definitely needed. AND the waitstaff is friendly, which is a huge plus in my book.
The food is top-notch diner food. Everything looks like how your mom might have made it at home (assuming your mom was a pretty dynamite breakfast cook)- meaning nothing looks pre-made and re-heated, it's all hot right of the grill. The banana-walnut pancakes with honey pecan butter??? To die for... I had to keep stealing bites off the boyfriend's plate. I had the spanish omelet- also delicious, especially with those great potatoes.
This place is waaaaaaaaaaaay better than the Bashful Bull Too on Taraval... it's worth it to trek those extra 4 blocks or so out to John's. -
Review from Joanne O.
San Francisco, CA
Updated - 7/21/2010
I LOVE this spot in my neighborhood. I always know I'm going to get a good meal here.
We went there last week very early in the morning so we could check out Sloat Garden Center after breakfast.. They do not serve waffles there, they obviously do not know who I am :), however they make up for it with their pancakes. Normally I order the banana walnut pancakes but that particular day I opted for scrambled eggs, potatoes and and english muffin. All good, can't go wrong with that order.
Afterward we hit Sloat garden center and spent a couple of hours taking photos which I will be reviewing in another post.
Before leaving we saw a duplex for rent on the corner which listed they would be available to show the place at noon. It was about 11 at that time so we decided to go back to John's for some coffee. Well, it didn't end there. We ordered their blueberry pancakes and split the dish. All I can say is, TO DIE FOR!!! They were scrumptious and my new favorite there. The service is always good, down home, nice and friendly. Love Abby, she is the best and we have so much fun with her whenever we are there. Great spot for breakfast or lunch. They close early at either 2 or 3, can't remember now. Weekends there are always packed but during the week you can enjoy some quiet time while inhaling the fantastic eats.1 Previous Review: Show all »
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2/9/2007
This place has been there for almost 30 years. Great local hangout and right by the beach and zoo.… Read more »
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Review from Jason B.
6/27/2010
Chuck Love rocked Temple till 3:30, which meant yours truly slept in later than planned. Awoke with my stomach growling, but not smart enough to rethink my plan to head to the ocean for eats. Rumor was it would be a sunny day, and this could have been a good one to lounge near the ocean with the latest GQ. And sunscreen.
Alas, the rumor was for now. I left a sunny (albeit a bit cold) Mission for the fog covered Sunset, and when I finally rolled into John's my stomach was yelling "It's On!". Past breakfast hours but not quite lunchtime, I decided to hit both.
A single blueberry pancake started things off and a turkey sandwich brought everything home. My waitress was as pleasant as could be, and while you could tell she wanted to roll her eyes with my "butter on the side, no mayo, could I have fruit, do you have wheat bread" ramblings, she delivered on everything, with a smile.
Sun never came out. But it was still worth the trip. -
Review from Jon-o G.
San Francisco, CA
7/5/2010
"Wait there and I'll sit ya!"
(I just want a coffee...)
"Well wait and I'll sit ya!"
(I don't wait, I can't wait)
"Well sure! You want your coffee!"
(Yes please)
"And cream?"
(No.)
"Fine!"
-She keeps wiping the
counters and tables
I feel she is a bit unstable.
With those Matilda Meth Teeth
I cringe at this
Ocean Beach Cafe-
"You still want cream?"
(No, stop asking)
-I forget her name
She is surely insane.
This isn't a chill cafe
But it is an absolute madhouse.
I want my fogbrew back
There's nothing wrong with that.- -
Review from Christina T.
San Francisco, CA
So, I came across this brunch cafe last night browsing through yelp and wanted to try out their crab benedict.
We came here today for a late lunch. They close (says on Yelp 3:30pm but it's actually 3pm).
Anyways, given that we walked in at 2:30pm, I didn't expect too much. Right when we walked in, the waitress was super friendly and very talkative. She gave us a heads up on 'no more poached eggs". What?!!
I wanted a benedict though!! So, she suggested possibly ordering one with the eggs sunny side, scrambled, or however I wanted them. So, I took a look at what kinds of benedicts were available. I didn't see crab...so I was very disappointed. Then I saw the special board that read "Benedict special: ravioli with smoked salmon, roasted red peppers and caramelized onions".
That sounded interesting. So, I went for it and opted for the wheat toast versus the english muffin. The bf got the Italian benedict. I also order a cup of Navy Bean soup.
Navy Bean Soup: sorta tasteless and had green onions! eeeek!
could've done without it.
My benedict special: looked a little weird because it was on wheat toast. That didn't bother me so much. There wasn't a whole lot of hollandaise sauce, but I can deal with that too. The ravioli was dry and the fish didnt taste very fresh. Something about it wasn't very good...maybe the ravioli was plain old? I was super hungry so I still ate a good amount. The home fries were nothing special...a little soggy to me.
The bf's benedict: it was definitely more eye appealing. It tasted better because at least it wasn't fishy and the Italian sausage had enough flavor. He actually said "Mama's is waaaay better!" I told him you can't really compare the 2, it's not really fair. Mama's and John's can't be judged on the same page, in my opinion. Anyways, he enjoyed and ate most of it.
We both agreed this place was a good experience, with the old cafe feeling and ambiance. The waitress definitely helped earned the 2nd star. But, unfortunately, as much as I would like to give them more, it's hard because I had higher expectations on my food. -
Review from Kate R.
San Bruno, CA
7/8/2010
This place has the best banana walnut pancakes I've ever had. I loved that the pancakes had fresh bananas in them.
I also liked all of the vintage movie posters and picturess that line the walls.
John's is also very reasonably priced. -
Review from Tony C.
Redding, CA
9/13/2010
Had a pretty good breakfast here today. Got blueberry shortstack pancakes with a side of John's potatoes. The pancakes were loaded with real fresh blueberries and the cinnamon blueberry butter that came with it was excellent. Not too sweet and sugary. It does looks like they are using Krusteaz batter mix because i saw a bunch of boxes of that stuff in a side storeroom, whatever. The Potatoes were great. Very flavorful, nothing fancy, but very well done.
Considering the place seemed like just a typical run of the mill diner when we walked in, I was not expecting to see some more sophisticated menu items such as the roasted veggie sandwich with pesto. It also had a lot of vegetarian friendly choices. Prices were pretty reasonable, and the service was excellent. Can't say this place wasn't a great breakfast. -
Review from Casey C.
San Francisco, CA
7/20/2010
Always on the hunt for a good breakfast I decided to give this place a try. I see it all the time and because of my schedule it's always closed. I like that about diners. I went in around 10am and there was only one other person, enjoying coffee and the paper, this is my scene!
A large menu and an even bigger seating area. I wasn't expecting such a large dining room. I ordered a coffee and the Louisiana Benedict, standard poached eggs atop an English muffin with green onions, Louisiana sausage and tomatoes sandwiched in between and drenched in the hollandaise sauce.
I remembered this place being known for something, but I couldn't recall upon ordering. I'm sure now that it is known for pancakes. I should have ordered those.
My food was ok. John's potatoes dished along side my benedict were flavorful, fully cooked but COLD. The Louisiana sausage was nothing special, good flavor but store bought (When going out I like to try things I couldn't or at least wouldn't make at home) and the produce was not the best. The tomatoes were soggy and old with no seasoning which made every mouthful taste watery and bland while the green onions on top of the too lemony Hollandaise were wilted and soft.
Bummer, the word of mouth alone got my expectations high.
I dig the scene enough to go back for coffee, the paper and hopefully some good pancakes. Food 2 stars with one extra for the nice staff and cool vibe. -
Review from Kara L.
San Francisco, CA
7/21/2011
Adorable staff and the best pancakes I've ever had. I'll keep coming back just for the pancakes. They make this yummy cinnamon walnut butter that is to die for. Would give 5 stars but the lighting is horrrrrrible so don't come here on a date!
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Review from Alexander B.
San Francisco, CA
11/14/2011
Pancakes are the best I have ever had and I grew up in the mid west...enough said
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Review from Maria A.
5/5/2010
I've been coming here since I was a little girl. The food is soo good and the portions are so big, we used to walk from my house down Sloat so that we could work it off on the way back.
The place hasn't changed in 20 years - vintage movie posters, velvet Elvis anyone? My only complaint is that they NEED to replace the booth seats - a little sprung. The service is usually very good unless its packed (ask for the Greek waitress, she's the best), then it can be a bit slow. Go later for brunch on the weekends, because early its super busy.
My two all-time John's favorites: Banana Walnut Pancakes with Honey-Pecan butter. The short stack will more than fill up a normal person. The bananas are in the pancakes, and they are slices not chunks - YAY! Honey-pecan butter is to die for.
All the John's scrambles are amazing, but my favorite is the one with chorizo, cilantro, avocado, cheese, onions and tomatoes. Beyond delicious, but you'll definitely need that walk on the beach afterwards.
one of these days I will actually try their sandwiches, which always look amazing. but brunch is soooo good..... -
Review from Lolia S.
San Francisco, CA
7/22/2009 2 photos
It looks like a true old-fashioned diner with the classic old school stools, glamorous old movie star pics on every wall (ahhh, even a young Joan Collins), vinyl booths, and the type of home-cooking you'd expect. For breakfast they have omelettes, juice, eggs your way, pancakes (buttermilk, blueberry or banana walnut). The omelettes include unexpected ingredients like chorizo and feta.
My buttermilk pancakes were thin (I like them fluffy), a bit tough/rubbery and too dark on one side. Sigh. Apparently the banana walnut and blueberry pancakes are really good but for some reason the buttermilk ones aren't. The banana ones looked very fluffy (but I hate bananas, so I can never try them). IHOP buttermilk pancakes are better.
The endless cup of coffee was pretty good for diner coffee and it was refilled often. The prices seem a bit high for an old school diner (e.g., average price of $9 for an omelet). I really wanted to like it but I must have ordered the wrong thing.
Cash only. ATM on site.Listed in: Diners and greasy spoons
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Review from Ed U.
3/9/2008 5 photos
The drably brown, porno-theater-like exterior doesn't really say "Well hey there...Welcome to your indigestion, honey'!"...at least to me. No, those amenities are left for the cheery waitress to hand out once you get in her eye-line.
With a name like John's Ocean Beach Cafe, I was expecting wet surfboards, fishnets freckled with starfish, and the undeniable feel of sand on the floor. You would see Gidget and Moondoggie necking in the back booth, while the ample-chested Annette storms out after Frankie tries to get her to put out. But none of them were here, even though the decor has more of a 1950's Hollywood with yellowing stills and posters on the walls.
Lots of yellow formica and Size 2 booths with worn naugahyde. Oh yeah, this is a diner alright. But I think the cook has bigger aspirations, God bless him, as this morning, he has specials that include some interesting gourmet ingredients into his specialty omelets. So how can I not try the $10.95 Roast Duck and Gorgonzola Cheese Omelet? Yes, that does seem pricey, but you have to live a little sometimes.
Oops, maybe not that much. While I admire the effort, the combination of the gamy duck and the strong cheese was a little too potent for the eggs, which managed to be greasy and rubbery at the same time. I usually don't complain about that combo in other applications like the bedroom, but here on my plate...mmm, not so good. Oh I ate it regardless 'cause I loves me the quack-quack, and the accompanying home fries were pretty tasty. The English muffin was slathered with butter, which should come as no surprise in a diner that doesn't offer Equal or Splenda for your coffee.
Maybe lunch is a better bet here, but it is quite a ways from my 'hood to get here. Perhaps the next time I perform my pagan ritual underneath the Doggie Diner Head, I can stop by and get some raw ground beef for the Dog.
FOOD - 3 stars...nice try at a gourmet omelet but kinda greasy to warrant an unconditional thumbs-up from me
AMBIANCE - 2 stars...it's seen better days...y'know, there's a fine line between comfy and greasy, and I've crossed it...many times
SERVICE - 3.5 stars..."Sit anywhere you like, honey"
TOTAL - 3 stars...middling diner next to the zoo has worthy aspirations -
Review from Zachary B.
San Francisco, CA
always bomb, and never a wait.
anyone up for some BANANA PANCAKES !?!? -
Review from ABBY A.
2/19/2009 2 photos
Nothing beats breakfast by the beach, but if Cliffhouse is too far or too busy, this place will do just fine! Its down the street from Ocean Beach and across the street from S.F. Zoo. Every morning when I get off from work, I am in search of a place that can give me more than the usual eggs, bacon, sausage deal.
7:30am on a weekday: Not many places are open in my area of S.F. or in Daly City, so my P.I.C. and I ventured off to the Ave's. Lots of parking, thanks to the zoo, and no waiting in line! ++
The waitress was very friendly and really took her time explaining the specials, which this day was their Crab Benedict made with fresh Snow Crabs ($13.95). She bragged about their fresh fruit platter ($6.25), so I ordered that, and of course, my French Toast ($5.95). I also had a cup of coffee ($2.25 but not as strong as I would have liked) and my P.I.C. had "fresh squeezed o.j." ($3.95), but Abby A. knows her fresh-squeezed from Odwalla.
The Crab Benedict was definitely something different for breakfast; it screamed "Flavor" with every bite (picture included). The fresh fruit platter was the biggest I've seen by far, and even though the oranges tasted like lemons, the pineapples, plum, apple, grapes, and melons were sweet and juicy (picture included).
The decor is a little...confusing. There's a mixture between 40's-50's musicians, contemporary African drawings, ocean figurines and fishing nets. But the food is good, the service is good, and the location is unbeatable! A perfect spot to grab a bite to eat and pair it with a stroll along the beach.Listed in: WAKE-n-BAKE, Do ME in the morning!
