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Squires Cafe & Deli
Categories: Food Coffee & Tea Restaurants Breakfast & Brunch Coffee & Tea, Breakfast & Brunch [Edit]
8080 La Jolla Shores Dr(between Avenida De La Playa & Camino Del Reposo)
La Jolla, CA 92037
Neighborhood: La Jolla Shores
(858) 456-7576
- Price Range:
-
$
- Accepts Credit Cards:
- Yes
- Parking:
- Street
- Attire:
- Casual
- Good for Groups:
- No
- Good for Kids:
- Yes
- Takes Reservations:
- No
- Delivery:
- No
- Take-out:
- Yes
- Waiter Service:
- No
- Alcohol:
- No
- Noise Level:
- Average
- Has TV:
- No
- Wheelchair Accessible:
- Yes
26 reviews for Squires Cafe & Deli
26 reviews in English
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Review from Sharon V.
3/14/2011 3 Check-ins Here
I personally enjoy coming here to grab a sandwich when I'm visiting the La Jolla Shores. I started coming here in 2009 when the Team in Training triathlon team would meet there on the weekends for our run and swim workouts.
I usually grab a turkey sandwich on wheat but yesterday I got the low fat tuna sandwich on wheat. It was delicious - I was only able to eat half of my sammy but it was fantastic. If I was smart and brought ice, I would've been able to save the rest for dinner. Next time. The tuna sammy had the right amount of mayo and crunch from the celery and onions they put it in. It definitely hit the spot and was very close to how I make them at home.
The girls working yesterday were very friendly and provided excellent customer service. This place will continue to be my favorite sammy shop when I'm at the shores on the weekend. I see that other peeps before me said the prices were high but I thought they were fair. -
Review from Holly C.
La Jolla, CA
10/12/2011
Terrible. I was forced to come here one day because Papalulu's down the street was closed. The guy at the counter was very unfriendly. They charge you if you want to use a credit card.
The food choices for breakfast are VERY limited. I ended up getting a bagel with cream cheese, tomato, and avocado. The tomato was still yellow and the bagel tasted like a Costco bagel...yuck.
And aside from the poor service and food options, the interior of this place is dark and unpleasant. I would've eaten outside but there was no room. I guess I could've walked down to the beach and if I am every forced to eat here again, I definitely will. Or maybe I'll just go next door and buy a box of Cap'n Crunch...cause even that would be better -
Review from Mike G.
Dayton, OH
10/13/2011
My wife and I came here on one of our last days in San Diego before heading to the beach so we could pick up a sandwich for lunch. We decided to split the Italian-style sub as it looked like a good size sandwich. The selection was pretty small and it definitely wasn't one of those places that had me debating between two amazing sounding choices, but this was close to the beach and we were hungry. So we got our sandwich, and headed to the beach. Overall the sandwich was decent. One of my biggest gripes with sandwiches is unevenly distributed ingredients. I hate having to pick out the best bite of sandwich to save for the end! On top of that, I got a piece of plastic in my sandwich that typically goes between the pieces of meat from packages... bleh... Overall carelessness and nothing appealing for a higher price and lower quality than a Subway sandwich.
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Review from Momma M.
San Diego, CA
3/26/2011
YUK! Old, dirty--gross!
Co-worker got food poising at Squires eating a roast beef sandwich.
Go down the street to "Cheese Shop", they have much better sandwiches. -
Review from Erin A.
San Diego, CA
12/29/2010
Agree with the lady below but I would not even recommend tourists going here. I once had a great sandwich here about 2 years ago and have tried to give it second chances since I work so close to it but its awful.
Last straw - soup that tastes like campbells, stale crackers and a roast beef sandwich with spoiled meat all for the low price of $7.
Forget it go to Papalulus or Cheese Shop for your sandwiches. -
Review from Heather H.
San Diego, CA
7/25/2011
The breakfast bagels aren't bad after bad surf...They somewhat cheer me up. The $1 coffee sign lured me in. I guess I should have just packed my own.
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Review from Amy D.
8/13/2010
Tourists : This place is AWESOME! Go here! I think you're the only reason this place has more than 2 stars. And the only reason they can stay afloat.
Locals : save your money. This place is crap. AND waaaaaay overpriced. My croissant had no butter flavor. The ham on it completely overpowered it.
15 bucks for 2 croissants and 2 coffees. Locals, go to Harry's and share an omelet. You'll spend about 2/3 as much while being 3/2 as happy. -
Review from SubPrimeTime T.
Escondido, CA
7/20/2010 1 photo
Good quality sandwiches.
Stopped here because Squires was the only place that had parking in this area.
I was here for a fresh made sandwich and there were several appetizing selections on the menu board.
The sandwich I chose had a generous amount of turkey, lettuce, tomato, and sprouts, yes sprouts. This was all on soft fresh wheat bread.
The main note was definitely the mayo/mustard. It had a vinegary tang that rocked the flavors on what is generally considered a boring turkey sandwich.
The price was 7.50, which was pricey considering there was no drink or chips included. I guess you pay for location, and quality.
I could see this place as a great stopping point after your scuba classes or just grabbing some grub and having a picnic on the beach..
- In general the service was pleasant, owner was there and a sassy girl was handling the deli case.
- They also had lunch burritos which looked good. -
Review from Neko C.
9/30/2011
Came here with my husband to grab some lunch for the beach. I've gone to La Jolla Shores for years and have always been curious about this deli nearby. Well, I finally tried it- and it was okay. Nothing magical. My husband and I decided to split the Italian-style sub, which had salami, turkey and ham, onions, cheese, tomato, lettuce, and Italian dressing. Standard stuff, though I was disappointed at the lack of pepperoncinis. It was a decent sandwich, but nothing to rave about. It wasn't a terribly sandwich, but it was slightly worse than I expected from a place that calls itself a deli. The menu hyped it up to be a large sandwich, something worth splitting between 2 people, but it wasn't that big. Definitely not worth the ridiculous amount of money they were charging for it. I imagine the only reason they get away with these prices is because of the location. If you want a sandwich to enjoy on your next La Jolla Shores trip- stop at the Ralphs by the 5 freeway. It'll be a slightly better sandwich, a bigger sandwich, and a cheaper sandwich!
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Review from Elizabeth O.
Long Beach, CA
12/6/2010
My friend and I had just driven 2 hours from Long Beach and wanted a quick bite before we went kayaking. We happened upon this cafe and figured it was our only option. The food options looked delicious. They had some great sounding sandwiches and quite a few pre-made meals available. The only things I could see that were GF was the hardboiled egg/cheese protein tray, salad and potato chips. I picked up the protein tray and said to my friend "I guess I'll just get this. I can't get a sandwich" So she mentioned to the girl taking our order "She's GF so she can't eat any of the sandwiches." The other employee butted in and haughtily stated, "yeah, it's called a lettuce wrap."
Well excuse me douche, lettuce wraps are not on your menu and we weren't complaining in the first place. So I said, "Oh, you have lettuce wraps?" to which he replied, "No. But I can do one."
Okay then. I ordered my lettuce wrap and my friend ordered the "Wrap of the Day" then we paid and sat down to wait for our food. My friend's wrap was stuffed full of meat, veggies and cheese. My lettuce wrap wasn't as cumbersome or as filling.
The food was good but the male employee's attitude lost this cute little cafe a star. -
Review from Christopher D.
La Jolla, CA
5/18/2010
I really was hoping that this joint was going to be a cozy whole in the wall deli that I could frequent. Oh how wrong I was.
Here I ate the 'La Jolla' or 'Torrey Pines' or something rather. It was the most boring turkey sandwich I had ever tasted. Really it made me sad. It's pretty wrong when a sandwich can have such an effect.
The only reason for ever coming here I suppose would be for the mediocre homemade baklava.
TO TOP IT ALL OFF
I was sitting down eating my sandwich and the owner comes and tells me a firm "we are closing right now . . . "
Will not return. -
Review from Matt P.
San Diego, CA
12/29/2010
So, I have quite a history with this place. I work right next door essentially and there aren't very many options in the neighborhood. This place used to be in my rotation of the 5 or so reasonably priced places around La Jolla Shores, so I ended up going here once a week for a few months in a row.
The sandwiches are good enough and are way cheaper than the other sandwich place, so I was happy for the most part with my early experiences. However, that's until I had an experience for which my only possible recourse was not to spend my hard earned money here anymore EVER (despite the fact that I would suffer with fewer lunch choices and sometimes have to go to the same place twice in one week).
I was in a hurry one day, so didn't have time to wait for a sandwich. Instead, I grabbed a snack pack out of their cooler which had a couple pieces of string cheese and a couple hard boiled eggs. I unwrapped them and quickly ate the hard boiled egg. Then I ate one piece of string cheese that didn't taste quite right. I opened the other pack and it really didn't taste right. I looked at the expiration date and it was past by at least a few months. Do you know how long it takes for string cheese to expire? It's not a short period of time.
That's fine...I'm reasonable enough. This was just a minor oversight, right? I decide I'll help them out and go let them know that there may be some other stuff past its expiration. I ask for the manager and let him know my experience. His response? "OK." That's it. He just said "OK". Stunned, I reply "Do you want me to take the other expired stuff out of the cooler for you?" "No.". That's it. He didn't care and in fact seemed annoyed that I would be reporting this, as if I was just looking for a handout. I had the proof of the expired wrapper too.
So, I advise not eating at this place for fear of questionable food conditions. I'm 100% certain they would serve food beyond its expiration to save money even if the food probably is alright. I'm sorry, but I'm not spending money at a food establishment where the food is "probably" alright. It's not well managed and is just in business to take advantage of unsuspecting tourists...read the other reviews, locals don't like this place. -
Review from Sandy Y.
San Diego, CA
11/27/2009
I have to agree with Robert Y.
My job sometimes takes me to the UCSD campus and on the way home I drive by this place. A year or so ago I stopped there one morning, hoping to get a tea and a croissant. When I asked for a tea the guy behind the counter looked at me as if he had never heard such a request. Then I nursed a tepid cup of colored water while the slightly annoyed staff looked around for something other than half-and-half or that nondairy white powder stuff put in my tea (that would be milk). The croissant was inedible. I made a note never to go back there.
But memory does not last forever and recently I again got tricked by the enticing location and stopped for my morning croissant and tea. Well, kick me in the butt and call me a dog if not the exact same experience awaited me again! It was the awful taste of the croissant that brought back the memories (hello, Proust...) but I started to get bad feelings when I recognized that morose guy behind the counter.
Note to self - never again! -
Review from Kim S.
San Diego, CA
8/26/2008
Aww, I love this place. It's a cute little cafe within walking distance from La Jolla Shores. It probably deserves more like a 4.5. It's a great place to grab a sandwhich before spending the day at the beach, or even to walk to while you're there if you get hungry. But make sure to head over early because they close super early every day. The sandwhiches are pretty good. Nothing too special but they have some nice options and the meat is fresh and not too thin or too thick. They also have a wall of pictures of sharks and other random things. Haha. I thought it was cool. They have lots of books on the shelves that you can sit back and read or even ask if you can buy them for cheap. They also have an internet station. I'm not sure about free WiFi though. Overall, It has a very local/homey feel and i love that.
Ohhh but the apple dumplings :) Make sure to get there early in the morning because theyre baked fresh daily and sell out fast and are something everyone absolutely has to try once. -
Review from Kristina A.
San Francisco, CA
12/5/2005
Best Lunch Place in La Jolla or UTC area.
This place offeres some of the best sandwhiches in La Jolla/ UTC area. Not bad parking which is an issue for most lunch spots in UTC area. This is a family run place so the service and quality is far better then the chain places nearby. -
Review from Steve R.
San Diego, CA
12/1/2007
A little piece of Europe with a touch of California style. Complete with high speed interent access, delicious sandwiches, excellent breakfast burritos and small bundles of happiness in the form of apple dumplings!
What I love most about this place is the postcards and photos by the register. They're definitely worth checking out while you wait for your food. This place is great for breakfast and lunch, make sure you come before 2PM because they close early. -
Review from Robert Y.
La Jolla, CA
11/1/2009
I really really really wanted to love this place. Heck, i'd settle for liking it a little bit. But, I can't bring myself to do so. I live a literal 25 yards from this place and despite the convenience, I'd much rather drive to what I consider MY local coffee shop.
The coffee is decent. Nothing earth-shatteringly good, but I can't complain about it. What I do complain about is the lack of character and lack of homeliness. The staff are more reminiscent of grocery baggers than baristas, with an ennui and a disdain for their job.
Living here, I understand that La Jolla Shores is a tourist trap, but please don't treat your locals who might be your year round patrons like we're simply dollar signs. Their breakfast is over-priced and mediocre. Although, the apple dumplings are pretty much epic.
This place has so much potential. This community so badly needs a decent coffee shop and unfortunately, the mediocrity of Squires Cafe just won't do... at least not for me. -
Review from Laura R.
San Jose, CA
7/1/2009
Went here for breakfast based on the previous reviews, and was terribly disappointed. The breakfast menu was very limited, just ham, bacon, eggs and cheese on a bagel, croissant or toast. I ordered the croissant with bacon egg and cheese; it was inedible. The croissant was stale and poor quality, the eggs were only on half of it, and the bacon was all fat. Yelp let me down big time on this one.
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Review from Eric L.
Downtown, Los Angeles, CA
8/27/2008
They had a sign for Apple Dumplings, sounds interesting, too bad they ran out at the time. Breakfast is served until 2pm, breakfast burrito was excellent. Good location to grab a bite before heading to any water activities. They do charge 50 cents for credit card transactions.
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Review from Big M.
San Diego, CA
3/18/2008
Great spot, great food. Inside and outside seating. I like to take advantage of their eclectic bookshelf and read for a a couple minutes on my lunch break while i sit outside in the sun. My usual choice: the lunch burrito.
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Review from lilly g.
1/21/2008
Great coffee and sandwiches, an awesome little family-run place. Starbucks opened down the street to try and take business, but this place has too much personality!
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Review from Gina T.
San Jose, CA
3/29/2009
This spot is exactly what i picture when i hear "beach town cafe." It's a cute little corner shop that offers lots of options for a quick bite to eat.
I came here for a fast breakfast before a friend's wedding and found the selection here to be perfect. I got a coffee and a ham/egg/cheese bagel sandwich. The owners (i assume) were really friendly and casual. We sat inside next to a big window that allowed the warmth of the sun to shine through. So relaxing and a perfect start to the morning.
Yes, you can probably get the same breakfast for cheaper at a fast food place, but you can't beat the laid back atmosphere and the beach-town feel of this cafe. -
Review from Amy C.
6/7/2007
Yummy apple dumplings! It's like a mini apple pie. Also, they have a few random books available to read while you're eating your fresh dessert.
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Review from Joan S.
9/12/2008
I would rate this place a 3.5. The place is a cute little cafe and I love the fact that you could sit outside to eat. The ambiance of the place is very nice and peaceful. I got the breakfast burrito and it was a little too greasy for me (I more prefer Cotixan). I would totally recommend eating the breakfast burrito with the salsa. My friends got the crab cake sandwich and the egg croissant sandwich. The egg croissant sandwich was also a little too greasy. After eating the breakfast burrito and the egg croissant sandwich, my insides felt oily. I did like the crab cake sandwich out of all the three.
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Review from Mae S.
Ann Arbor, MI
1/10/2009
Lunch. Breakfast. Coffee. Internet. Outdoor tables. Not far from the beach. Good job!
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Review from V R.
Los Altos, CA
5/22/2009
Great place for a late breakfast or sandwich. A two minute walk from our place, and on the way to the beach. Love it!
Listed in: My La Jolla Neighborhood
