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Olive Cafe
Categories: Restaurants American (New) Restaurants Breakfast & Brunch American (New), Breakfast & Brunch [Edit]
805 Santa Clara Pl(between Bayside Ln & Mission Blvd)
San Diego, CA 92109
(858) 488-1224
- Hours:
Mon-Sun 7:30 am - 3 pm
- Good for Kids:
- Yes
- Accepts Credit Cards:
- Yes
- Parking:
- Street
- Attire:
- Casual
- Good for Groups:
- Yes
- Price Range:
-
$
- Takes Reservations:
- No
- Delivery:
- Yes
- Take-out:
- Yes
- Waiter Service:
- No
- Outdoor Seating:
- Yes
- Good For:
- Breakfast
- Alcohol:
- No
- Noise Level:
- Average
- Ambience:
- Casual
- Has TV:
- No
- Caters:
- Yes
- Wheelchair Accessible:
- No
About This Business:
The Boardwalk Mission Beach specializes in quality food served in a relaxed beach setting. We our known for our breakfast- served all day and our fresh… read more »
115 reviews for Olive Cafe
Review Highlights
"My breakfast burrito with soy chorizo was delicious."
(in 5 reviews)
"...is awesome, and the spicy tomato soup that's included is..."
(in 3 reviews)
"Outdoor seating and pet friendly."
(in 6 reviews)
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115 reviews in English
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Review from Furai X.
Berkeley, CA
1/16/2012
I still have saliva-secreting daydreams about this place.
Walked along Mission Bay to get here and grabbed a seat in the outdoor deck area where tiny song birds literally bounced around in the sunlight as a light ocean breeze blew by. The server was really friendly and our food was ready quickly.
I nearly blacked out from anticipatory happiness when I saw my banana walnut pancakes. For just $5.75, I got two fluffy pancakes that were 10 inches in diameter!!!! The walnuts were generously embedded in there and the banana slices were layed out on top in the shape of a happy face. Oof, it was good. Every. Single. Bite.
Can't decide whether I should be proud or embarrassed but I finished both pancakes. Both 10-inch pancakes. Because they were just THAT good.
Next time, I'm definitely giving their drinks a try. That's my only regret. -
Review from Walter K.
San Diego, CA
2/6/2012
Went here for late breakfast / early lunch today. The parking problem that other reviewers moan about it easily solved by driving to the end of Santa Clara Place where there is a large public lot about five minutes walk away. It was about 2/3 full on a partly cloudy, cool weekday in February, so I'm sure it would be full on a sunny weekend day, especially in the Summer, but then I avoid Mission Beach like the plague in the summer anyway.
The Cafe is an old converted bungalow with a fairly large terrace that probably seats around 20 guests. The terrace was crowded with a bicycle club of some sort, so we opted to sit inside which was clean and comfortable. Only two employees and the owner, Sarah, were working taking orders, waiting tables, answering the phone and making drinks, and they were being kept busy. I could see things slowing down a lot and long lines forming if they did not have more employees working. The cafe is really not set up to serve large numbers, as you order at the counter and then your food is brought to you, but with only one register working, and the phone ringing off the hook, this set up is a bottleneck waiting to happen. Also if more than four patrons stand in line, access to the interior of the cafe is blocked.
We ordered a breakfast and a lunch. I was actually surprised how quickly the food was served. "The South Swell" breakfast came with three scrambled eggs, three slices of bacon, two pancakes and hash browns. Everything was cooked well, and the hash browns were cooked extra crispy, like I asked. The pancakes were delicious. The breakfast was huge and compared to other places a relative deal at $7.50 Luckily we walked a few miles afterward. I also ordered a large orange juice, to which they added a shot of pomegranate juice. It was Naked Juice out of the bottle and was maybe a day or two past the sale by date.
The lunch we ordered was a tuna melt, It was delicious and filling and not greasy or with too much mayo. It came with a side of macaroni salad which was also well done, easy on the mayo and just enough bite. It also cost $7.50 which I thought was fair for its size, quality and the fact it came with a side.
I think the Olive Cafe is one of the better breakfast places in San Diego as all the ingredients seem to be fresh and everything seems to be made to order. The cafe interior is clean as is the restroom. The drawbacks are as I noted the obvious inability to handle large numbers of patrons and the way the line is formed. The owner is friendly and she seems to be enjoying what she is doing, which is good. -
Review from Connie C.
San Diego, CA
1/30/2012 1 Check-in Here
The food was good and it's a cute, casual place. The laid-back atmosphere was nice, but I wouldn't give more than 3 stars for the food. It is definitely more "A-OK" than fan-worthy. I don't think it's worth the impossible parking situation around those parts. If I have to put up w/ anxiety-inducing parking troubles, I'd rather go to The Mission.
I also thought it was amusing that they charged for a cup to hold the hot water I asked for. It's fine though, it was an $8 breakfast after all.
Not a bad cafe at all. If I lived within walking distance, I'd stroll over for some cheap breakfast on the reg. But I don't, so I won't. Oh well. -
Review from Paul P.
1/20/2012 2 Check-ins Here
Typically I am not a big go out to Breakfast/Brunch on Saturday or Sunday fan. But, my wife was meeting with a vendor and his family and they suggested Olive Cafe. I am glad they did. We arrived about ten minutes before they did. Olive Cafe is a small place. You order at the front. We got a coffee while we waited.
There is a nice warm indoor space in the back with room for 12 or 16 and a patio that holds a few more than the indoor space. We found a nice outdoor table and enjoyed watching people go by.
When our friends arrived they brought their two children and dog. Olive Cafe was quite accomodating. We ordered the spicy sausage breakfast and the Cousin's favorite. The Spicy sausage was exactly as advertised. Great flavor, the right amount and a baguette that was extremely tasty. My wife got the Cousin's favorite and it had fantastic flavor as well.
Olive Cafe can get crowded but the line to order moves fast. And, I was very surprised at how fast the kitchen prepared and delivered our meals. Olive Cafe was very accomodating, very friendly and very tasty. Maybe I need to rethink my Breakfast/Brunch on Saturday and Sunday aversion. I certainly will when the place is as nice as Olive Cafe.
Thank you. -
Review from Robert L.
1/5/2012 4 Check-ins Here
For the most part, @YelpPhx should understand this place reminds me of home.
Adjacent to Voltero's, I visit Olive Cafe to grab a semi-decent cup of coffee. I am greeted with a "Hi" every time, and cant help but smile back when the lady in the front is smiling at me. I am sure their is some social psychological underpinning to this, but I still seem to smile.
Great location for people watching and for the budget if you are vacationing and still want to eat tasty food.
Visit it!!
R\_ -
Review from Sean L.
Princeton, NJ
1/2/2012
Great warm Scones! You must give them a try. I loved the Turkish Sausage and eggs. Also eaten were the Buttermilk pancakes and eggs & bacon, very good. Prices cannot be beat.
Others in my group said it was the best breakfast we had while on vacation in San Diego, I did not agree, but that gives you an idea of the food quality.
Endless coffee that was nice and tasty. Staff was friendly, quick, and helpful.
If you don't mind seating yourself, going up to the counter to order, and getting your own coffee refills and fixen's away from the table, this is a great place to stop for breakfast. Might be a little tough with strollers and extra kids. -
Review from Tracey M.
1/7/2012
A local institution. Best breakfast in town. Coffee is good. A real San Diego experience. Laid back, local. Great desserts as well. Lovely decor.
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Review from Jordan C.
Pacific Beach, San Diego, CA
1/8/2012
Best Breakfast in San Diego! My daughter and I love the Banana Walnut Pancakes! So delicious and fluffy and covered in icing sugar.
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Review from Lauren L.
1/6/2012 1 photo
One thing I noticed right when I got to SD were these things called acai bowls. I had never heard of them before nor had any clue what they might be. When I finally asked what the heck these things were, I knew I had to have one. It's basically a fruit heaven bowl. I had scouted out a few places that supposedly have the best acai bowls in PB but of course when we went to Rum Jungle they were closed. Both my friends immediately suggested that we head to Olive Cafe. I was sold, as long as it was going to be good and I was going to get my acai I was in.
Olive Cafe is a cute little cottage like eatery that has outdoor and indoor seating. Most people were sitting outside but we were too cold to take part in that. We ended up deciding to sit all the way in the back in hopes to stay warm. We scoped the menu, even though were all getting acai bowls, it's always still fun to look. We sat there for at least 15 minutes until we realized we weren't being waited on and chances are we won't going to be. My friend made her way up to the front, which is where you place your order. They could have told us that! So our order was placed and now it was time to patiently wait.
The acai bowl was made up of Brazilian Acai served with granola, seasonal fruit and honey. And then it arrived, the one thing I had been eager to have all week long. It looked so beautiful and so fresh. The bottom layer was granola, then a big layer of acai with another touch of granola topped off with bananas, strawberries and blueberries! The acai berry is a beautiful shade of purple. It has a sweet yet tangy flavor to it. Getting a bite of honey, granola, fresh fruit and acai was a super fruit party in your mouth. And the best part about this thing, eating it was guilt free! The acai bowl was $5.95, which may seem pricey for the size but remember it's a superfruit!!
I really wanted to like Olive Cafe especially after reading the story about the girl who started the cafe but something just felt a little off. I think if you are going to offer seating you should wait on your tables. While I'm not letting this be the deal breaker I just thought it was a little odd that they didn't speak up. The decor is beachy and relaxing and their breakfast and lunch menu is served all day. -
Review from Teresa P.
10/11/2011
Yup, can see why people say it's a hidden gem! While Santa Clara Pl is a popular street to access the awesomeness of Mission Bay, it's easy to pass right by Olive Cafe without even noticing it! Great location (minus PB parking horrors).
Came here for a late lunch and was able to try the pesto chicken and california chicken sandwiches. Honestly, the california chicken was a pretty basic boring chicken sandwich, but oh boy, the sun dried tomato pesto won me over for the pesto chicken sandwich! Mac salad and spicy tomato soup were pretty decent. I typically don't like mac salad, but Olive Cafe's is pretty good!
Personally, if I were in the area for a sandwich, I'd be much more likely to drop by Rubicon. Olive Cafe is cute and cozy with a beach breezy location, but I expected more from their sandwiches. Totally agree with the fly problem. It's definitely hard to fully enjoy your food when a fly lands in your soup and get stuck in it... I felt like I was constantly waving my hands around in an attempt to not get fly poop and saliva all over my food.... -
Review from Daniel H.
Glendale, Los Angeles, CA
1/10/2012 1 Check-in Here
Good for the whole family Vegan&meat eater a like.
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Review from John G.
La Mesa, CA
1/2/2012 1 Check-in Here
Hard to find, ZERO parking. Good service, good food. Not many options in the area.
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Review from Joel S.
12/4/2011
"If we have it, and you want it, we'll gladly add or sub it"
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Review from Maruta G.
San Diego, CA
8/31/2011
As a 20 year local who bikes all over Mission Beach, I can say that The Olive is the BEST cafe in Mission Beach - hands down! You can't beat their terrific staff, wonderful breakfast and lunch food, reasonable prices, and cozy atmosphere. My favorite items are the amazing fruit smoothies, fresh bakes pastries, berry & chocolate chip pancakes, and tuna melt sandwiches with tomato soup. But every item on the menu is home made and served quickly.
We have had a terrible problem with flies in the entire beach area this summer and the Olive is no exception. But they have done everything they can possibly do, short of spraying for miles around the cafe. The City needs to clean up the kelp and seaweed on a daily basis. Out of our control! Don't let this put you off from sitting outside and enjoying a great meal, surrounded by friendly people. -
Review from nick a.
San Clemente, CA
1/23/2012
Sitting here now with my beautiful wife. We just enjoyed an amazing late breakfast. I had a scramble with feta and spinach, toast and hash browns. Wifie had the huge blueberry pancakes. This place is a great great place and amazing coffee drinks. Service is awsome and we are happy full and did not hurt our wallet.
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Review from Michael C.
San Diego, CA
8/30/2011
Just had brunch at Olive Cafe.
I will start off by saying this. I always appreciate a place that allows you to fill your own water cup as often as you want, order/pay at the register when you are ready and leave when you are finished with your food (no waiting around for a server to pick up your check, return it etc.). These are all positive qualities to me, albeit some may disagree.
The food was was very good and served in a timely manner. The best part of my meal was my chai latte. I also enjoyed the location; 1 block from the ocean and directly next to Mission Bay. It has a small, coffee shop feel to it. Very homey and laid back. Dining there feels like you are eating on the back porch of a summer home you have rented. It had a local feel to it. I noticed a lot of people in the restaurant knew each other.
The reason I did not give this place 5 out of 5 stars is because this place has a serious fly problem. There weren't just a few lingering fly's, there were tons. They were constantly buzzing around my head and landing on my food. There is no excuse for the amount of fly's they had in there, it is a restaurant after all.
Also, the tables were not clean. I don't fault a place for being small and crowded, but at least keep the tables clean and bussed.
I would eat there again because the food was good and you can be in and out of there in under 30 minutes after enjoying a full meal. 2 out of 5 based on the overall uncleanliness which, in my opinion, should never be an issue at a restaurant. -
Review from Steve F.
Wow, talk about your hidden gems in San Diego... we came here this past Saturday to kick off a friend's bachelor party. While the Olive Cafe is quite small (I think it's a converted beach cottage), the interior is quite homely and you feel like you're right at home. While the patio area was really nice, our group of 8 didn't have any room for us to be seated outside, so we pushed a bunch of tables together inside.
What really stands out for me was the speed of service (within 5 minutes of ordering, my food came to my table - very efficient!), the quality of the servers (very friendly)... and of course, the food! I ordered the Eggs Lockerman Scramble - three eggs scrambled with ham, sausage, green pepper, spinach, and sun dried tomatoes, with a side of hash browns and a choice of toast (in my case, sourdough). Very delicious, and when I tried some of my friend's Banana Walnut Pancakes (which were so huge that he made us each try some), I resolved to try the pancakes next time I'm here.
Good food, good times... what more can you ask for? -
Review from Michael T.
Bellevue, WA
9/6/2011 1 Check-in Here
Salsa was the highlight. Unlike any I have ever had. It wasn't spicy at all and had a really nice flavor to it.
Loved the outdoor seating. There are a couple tables off to the side that are nice and private.
Line can get a bit long so get their early. -
Review from Gabrielle N.
San Diego, CA
8/20/2011
I recently moved from Chicago and happen to live around the corner from the Olive. What a great location!! I go to the Olive nearly every morning for my coffee/lattes because its so nice and cozy. There is indoor and outdoor seating. All of the staff are friendly and helpful. Both breakfast and lunch are also excellent...and cheap! Everything is made to order. They always have fresh baked treats which look amazing but I haven't tried because I fear instantly becoming addicted to them.
I would definitely recommend this place if you want to enjoy a cozy little beachside meal or cup of coffee. -
Review from Eric R.
5/21/2011 1 Check-in Here
Awesome freaking breakfast!
I ordered the pancake plate called the Dad's Special or something along those lines.
The pancakes were delicious, raspberries, blueberries, blackberries, bananas, chocolate chips and a touch of powdered sugar on top. I'm not much for sweets but this thing punched me in the mouth!
Go to this place if you heading back from San Diego or heading down!! -
Review from Anna C.
5/6/2011 4 photos
Definitely a hidden gem. I must have passed this place a billion times and never noticed it. But I finally discovered it after I moved away from SD thanks to my friend who frequents this place.
The food was simple, but amazingly good. The outdoor seating is pretty stellar since the weather almost always allows it, and you can have a slight view of Mission Bay. Service was friendly and fast -- order and pay at the register and soak up the sun while you wait for your food. If you're weird and don't like sunshine, there's a little bit of space inside too. -
Review from Brandon C.
Sacramento, CA
10/19/2011
Really good & cute. There are little birds that fly around that are really brave & wait at your feet for you to drop some of your food.
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Review from James C.
San Diego, CA
1/13/2011 1 Check-in Here
Wake up on a Saturday morning and...
Strike that. Wake up on a Saturday afternoon for a hearty breakfast after after fighting off the effects of Friday night excursions. Everything at Olive tastes like a home cooked breakfast without the experience of cleaning up.
If you want to be close to the beach or at the beach and looking to avoid the crowds at The Mission and other morning eateries, then head over to Olive for your morning nourishment and interaction with the friendly and beaming proprietors. -
Review from Alyssa C.
Chula Vista, CA
1/18/2011
I'm not exactly sure how this place got such high reviews. I went here for breakfast the other day with friends after finding it on Yelp and I was pretty disappointed.
I ordered the Beach Special (2 pieces of bacon, eggs, and hasbrowns) and added a side of toast only to find myself hungry at the end of the meal. Both my friends and I agreed that this was a meal we definitely could've made at home -- you are pretty much paying for someone else to cook it. Though the service was great, it wasn't enough to get me to come back.
Perhaps I wouldn't have been so upset if this place hadn't gotten such great reviews. Overall, I wouldn't recommend it. -
Review from Tamara C.
San Diego, CA
2/6/2011 2 Check-ins Here
This cute little beach cafe is one of my favorite breakfast joints. Located just off the bike path in Mission Beach the owner Sarah serves up amazing raspberry and chocolate chip pancakes, great coffee and a nice beach- sunny atmosphere. The tomato soup and fresh baked pastries
are also a favorite. Outdoor seating and pet friendly.
- Tamara Cross Attorney -
Review from Gabi M.
11/1/2010 1 Check-in Here
Jared and I stumbled upon Olive Cafe for breakfast last week... We took a morning walk and worked up an appetite and then used the Yelp app to find breakfast. Olive Cafe is where we ended up and it was exactly what we were looking for.
As we were about to place our order, I saw that Olive Cafe accepts Cash, Visa and MasterCard... Unfortunately we grabbed only an Amex card and a few bucks when we left our hotel room. Luckily, Sarah, the owner, told us to order and come back to pay later on. How sweet was that?
I ordered the "Popeye's Scramble" with egg whites and a side of tomato. Jared had the "Keep It Simple." I had a refreshing iced tea and he had a coffee that he said was really good... We sat down outside and our food arrived promptly. There were plenty of regulars hanging out utilizing the free wireless and it was a prime people watching spot.
Olive Cafe had lots of inside seating as well, and a cozy fireplace too. I could see hanging out regularly if I lived in the area.
I'm rounding up what would normally be a four star review to five because of the stellar service from the owner, Sarah, and their affordable prices. I'll be back to visit next time I'm in the Mission Beach area for sure!Listed in: Gabi Does Mission Beach
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Review from Nicole G.
West Sacramento, CA
10/2/2011
When I lived in San Diego this place was a weekend ritual. Amazing food, good prices, great friendly San Diego beach atmosphere- I miss it so much! Owner and staff are warm and friendly, great spot!
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Review from Kristy N.
Pittsburgh, PA
8/8/2011 1 Check-in Here
Adorable. Delicious. 5 Star.
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Review from Kimberly T.
San Diego, CA
8/10/2011
By far one of the top places to grab food in Mission Beach!! I have been a few times and the service is better then any top $ establishment AND the food is AMAZING!! They have a great menu with a lot of variety.
We started out a couple years ago having breakfast at Olive. The portions are large, tasty, and served hot. They have great recipes! YUMS!!
We had lunch a couple times including last weekend and ordered the Turkey Club with Alvacado. It was so good all our friends wanted to go back to the shop and get one too! I also ordered a Chai Tea Latte Iced.. it beats Starbucks anytime!! I could taste the spices!!
Last but not least... they just remodeled the place it now has a much larger eating area inside! It used to be small and quaint with a little fireplace to sit next to while you ate... now they have 2 fireplaces, and a larger room and bathroom. LOVE the new look because they still kept the VIBE! Stop by this place you will not be disappointed. -
Review from Krys G.
Long Beach, CA
8/19/2011 1 Check-in Here
Really nice, simple easy food and atmosphere. The perfect place to hit up for breakfast, lunch or something in between when you're in Mission Beach.
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Review from Suong N.
8/15/2011
I found the Olive Cafe on yelp and headed here before going to SeaWorld. This is a fantastic spot for breakfast. You can really tell this place is popular with the locals. I had the South Swell (three scrambled eggs, three slices of bacon, two pancakes, and hash browns). Everything was perfectly cooked. I don't usually go for sweet breakfast foods but the Berry Brandy Cream Cheese French toast is excellent! I had a caffe mocha to drink and even though it mostly tasted like hot chocolate I didn't care. The food was delicious and service was so friendly and great even though it was really crowded. It was all very reasonably priced too! After tax it was only about $23 for our two entrees + two coffee drinks. I'd definitely return!
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Review from Emilee C.
San Diego, CA
10/5/2010
Here I am expecting to be maybe one of ten reviewers for the Olive Cafe, and lo and behold there are already almost 50 reviews (all excellent, not surprising).
Sucks for me because I thought I had a hidden neighborhood joint, good for the owner because she couldn't deserve it more. The service is always excellent, the food is delicious (try not to come hungover - I did my first time here and almost retched when I smelled bacon - which is too bad because in recent visits it's proven to be scrumptious)
Can't speak to parking as I walk here, but it is right by a public parking lot that usually doesn't fill up during the non-summer months. Also the chai tea latte is one of the best I've ever had. I don't know if they do anything special or it's just some syrup they use, but I refuse to ask since anything but the former would disappoint me terribly.
All in all if you ever find yourself in MB and want a delicious breakfast, skip the lines, self-righteousness and wallet-rape you'll get at The Mission and hit up Olive Cafe instead.Listed in: Go green, or else
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Review from Amber O.
Mission Viejo, CA
7/11/2011 1 Check-in Here
This place got a lot of hype and being a foodie I was expecting a lot. This is good food that I could make at home with very good pricing for what u get. If u want an amazing breakfast, don't mind paying a little more and wants get in touch with your inner foodie go to Mission Cafe. If you want quick cheap and decent food come here.
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Review from David N.
San Francisco, CA
12/19/2010
Walk up, order, grab a seat and enjoy
Man - I love me my breakfast spots. I used to come here when I was in Junior Lifeguards (oh so many years ago). I had the 'Mz heart scramble' - egg whites, shrooms, bell peppers and a side of fruit. Delicious. The OJ came with a splash of pomegranate, incredible. Good fruit-slushy's also.
The home-made sales is incredible. The Breakfast burritos are awesome too. -
Review from Matthew H.
Concord, CA
6/19/2011 1 Check-in Here
Pretty good food. I would go back for sure. I'd like to try the scones some time they looked enormous and tasty. Eggs n pancakes are pretty standard breakfast joint fare. Tasty and the patio is a nice place to spend the morning. Worth a try.
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Review from Natalie F.
McKees Rocks, PA
2/6/2011
Been here twice already on my seven day vacation to San Diego and I love Olives! Chill place to relax and have your morning cup of coffee and breakfast. Food is homemade and so fresh and delicious, I love their Kookacakes (2 fresh pancakes with chocolate chips, fresh banana slices and whip) YUM!
As per other yelpies, yes you can make all of their items easily at home but the beach vibe makes it a cool place to enjoy your meal, talk and laugh...worth the visit. -
Review from Eric J.
San Diego, CA
1/18/2011
From some of the high yelp reviews on this place, I was really excited to try it out. I can understand the local value of this place but it really wasnt what I was expecting. The food is really "homey" and was good. I do not think it was worth driving 25 mins from south Chula Vista all the way to Mission Beach to try an aiiiiiight cafe.
If you are around the area, about 5-10 mins away, then it may be a different story. But honestly, the amount that me and my friends spent on on having brunch here, I would have whipped out about the same quality of breakfast.
The portioning is really like a beach diet type of portioning. I thought it was robbery when its an extra $1 for eggs whites and $1 to substitute toast for a fruit bowl. -
Review from Rich L.
6/5/2011 1 Check-in Here
After a nice sunny morning bike ride around mission beach and pier, we decided to stop at the corner to locate some food. What luck! Right after checking Yelp, we found Olive Cafe just across the street. They have an outdoor and indoor area and quite the selection of breakfast, sandwiches, and smoothies. Food highlight: South Swell - 3 eggs, 3 bacon, 2 pancakes, and hash browns
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Review from Kattie C.
Coachella, CA
10/19/2010
Really small venue at which most of the seating is outside. It's kind of crowded but VERY fun/ beach-bum atmosphere. If you're planning to come here in your new up-do on a rainy day, DON'T. But if you're planning to stop by after a morning of some surf, DO. Super awesome if it's a nice day, but be warned-- it gets busy and kinda crowded on weekends. Finding good seating is hard then, so come prepared to wait or to snatch up a seat when you find it.
The strengths of this place to me REALLY lie in the cheap stuff-- pastries and the yogurt/ acai bowl. These are totally worth your money. I've had the yogurt and it filled me up plenty. The acai bowl looked good too. The coffee cake I had was great, and I was glad I got it. The coffee itself was okay, and the other breakfast stuff is of good quality though nothing to write home about. I mean, it's typical fare you can find at any decent breakfast place, though some of the menu items are pretty creative and worth the adventure [again, nothing I'd specifically go back for, but always worth a try]. Definitely beats Denny's for about the same price.
The other strength is the community/ vibe. If you're into the beach and beach culture, this is a great place to go. You're also right next to Mission Bay Aquatic Center as well as the beach, so after a big breakfast, it's nice to take a stroll-- not to mention all the shops to explore. The service is great-- people are friendly, and I've always had a pleasant experience.
Overall, great place and definitely worth the money!! -
Review from jackie c.
San Diego, CA
9/7/2010
The Olive Cafe is hands down one of my very favorite cafes in San Diego. A perfect daytime destination for breakfast or lunch.
My favorites on the menu are their tuna sandwich (which isn't too mayo-y) and "dad's favorite pancakes" which have chocolate chips, berries and i believe bananas. Yumm! The prices are super reasonable and come out pretty fast after ordering.
One thing to note, is that you order and pay at the counter, and then take a seat, and your order to brought to you. The past couple times i've been by there, there has been zero tables available, with still a line out the door. The only reason why i haven't been back in a while is because this line has more than a few times sent me over to The Boardwalk across the street. However, I'm always regretful that i didn't wait it out for Olive, since their food and service are FAR superior.
The best way to get there is by bike, since parking can be a little tough. There is a parking lot just down the street on Santa Clara, where there is free parking for the aquatic center.
Im definitely going to be going back, and probably more frequently as the mission beach summer crowd fades away :)
