Zanzibar Cafe

4.0 star rating
211 reviews Rating Details

Category: American (New)  [Edit]

976 Garnet Ave
(between Bayard St & Cass St)
San Diego, CA 92109
Neighborhood: Pacific Beach
(858) 272-4762
Hours:

Mon-Thu, Sun 7 am - 9 pm

Fri-Sat 7 am - 10 pm

Good for Kids:
Yes
Accepts Credit Cards:
Yes
Parking:
Street
Attire:
Casual
Good for Groups:
Yes
Price Range:
$$
Takes Reservations:
No
Delivery:
No
Take-out:
Yes
Waiter Service:
Yes
Outdoor Seating:
Yes
Good For:
Lunch, Breakfast
Alcohol:
Beer & Wine Only
Noise Level:
Average
Ambience:
Casual
Has TV:
No
Caters:
No
Wheelchair Accessible:
Yes
Dogs Allowed:
No

Review Highlights   

user photo
"The chicken Pesto Sandwich is perfectly made." (in 5 reviews)
user photo
"Perfect for Mimosa's and people watching on the weekends." (in 24 reviews)
user photo
"Breakfast is served all day." (in 3 reviews)
  Loading...
Sort by: Yelp Sort | Date | Rating | Elites' | Facebook Friends'

211 reviews in English

  • Review from Kaitlin S.

    •  
    • 2 friends
    • 60 reviews

    San Diego, CA

    4.0 star rating
    1/22/2012

    This place is super cute! I came here for a late brunch with my brother on Saturday. We had to wait a bit for a table to open up, but the wait staff was very friendly and two of them came by to assure us they'd get us a table as soon as one opened up. I had the breakfast panini with egg, cheese and tomato on multigrain toast, served with fresh fruit salad and rosemary potatoes. My brother had an open faced sandwich with arugula, blue cheese, artichoke, mushrooms and tomatoes, I think. I really enjoyed my panini because it wasn't too greasy or heavy. I had a chai latte as well, which seemed to be made from the same mix I buy at Trader Joe's. We each ordered a baked good to go-- I got almond tea cake (full of butter, and consequently, delicious) and he got a chocolate-filled croissant.

    My brother and I both took awhile trying to decide what to order here because everything looked so good! I'll definitely be back.

  • Review from Hayley R.

    •  
    • 12 friends
    • 6 reviews

    San Diego, CA

    4.0 star rating
    12/31/2011

    The food here is definitely five star.  It's tasty but never greasy, something that's hard to pull off.  My personal favorite is the house salad (tomato, avocado, sprouts, artichoke, yum), which comes with a bomb balsamic dressing and homemade bread.  The pizzas are also really good, as is the homemade granola.

    So why the four instead of five stars?  The service here is super slow, almost beyond belief.  It seems like the servers are in charge of too many things (making drinks, taking orders, packing to go orders, etc).  Maybe they'll fix this someday! If not, its still a great spot.

  • Review from Shaina B.

    San Diego, CA

    3.0 star rating
    12/20/2011 1 Check-in Here

    Service: Snails pace.  If you want to spend over an hour having breakfast, then you should come here.  Our waitress was very nice...when we saw her.

    Food:  It's okay.  I've come here for lunch before and had some sandwich--it was okay.  Had eggs benedict for breakfast, it was again, okay.  However, the bacon on it was delicious--the rest of it was pretty bland.

    Price: A little more than I'd like to spend on food that I think is just okay.

    Cleanliness: Borderline dirty.  Our table was still dirty.  Bathroom was gross.

  • Review from Zinat M.

    New York, NY

    4.0 star rating
    1/14/2012

    Awesome chill cafe in Pacific Beach, in walking distance of the beach. The star of the menu are their focaccia bagels. The scrambles are also very good, filled with egg, potato and whatever veggies and meat come with. Didn't try their coffee or tea, but they had a varied selection. The sun dried tomato cream cheese is heaven, especially on the jalapeno bagel... truly amazing! They ran out of the other flavors by the time we got there, it was afternoon so ok, fair enough, but I hope they read this and make enough to last all day and night. It's a fairly large cafe, so it can accommodate big groups. The location is great as it's filled with shopping, dining, bars, necessities and of course the beach!

  • Review from Amanda D.

    •  
    • 45 friends
    • 109 reviews

    San Diego, CA

    4.0 star rating
    1/16/2012 1 photo 1 Check-in Here

    Awesome eggs benedict!!!! Get it with cheesy potatoes and advocado and it'll seriously be one of the best breakfast you'll ever eat!

  • Review from Sophia G.

    San Diego, CA

    2.0 star rating
    11/28/2011

    I can't review their ice tea because I never received one.  Just stood at the counter for 10min looking like an idiot while the two employees working this Sunday entered numbers in on their respective registers and never made eye contact with me.  Really??  You can't even take 5 seconds to tell me you'll be with me shortly?  It wasn't until I started laughing about the whole situation that one guy tells me a waitress would come by in a second to take my order.  2 more minutes pass and the lucky lady rolls up, proceeds to stand with the other two, and.... ignores me.  3 minutes passed before I turned tail and left.

    I've been here before and quite enjoyed the pastries and coffee, but the crap service is unforgivable.  Went down the street to Pacific Bean Coffee Shop.  No attitude, cheaper drinks, and their ice tea rocked.  Just saying...

  • Review from Jeremy S.

    •  
    • 16 friends
    • 26 reviews

    Reston, VA

    4.0 star rating
    11/20/2011 1 Check-in Here

    Zanzibar's was outstanding! The perfect place for a weekend brunch or coffee break. There is plenty of seating indoor and a front patio with european style seating, if you want to catch some rays. I caught up to their delicious broccoli soup that hit the spot on a cool fall afternoon.

    The personnel was attentive and upbeat, made me want to move back to San Diego.
    If so, i would be there everyday, just like the old days.

  • Review from Nia F.

    •  
    • 16 friends
    • 20 reviews

    San Diego, CA

    5.0 star rating
    1/1/2012 4 photos 2 Check-ins Here

    Excellent service like always, and can't help to tell you how amazing the Boston cream pie is accompanied by a freshly brewed mocha latte. Love this cafe. Always exhibit new paintings of different artist that you can by.

  • Review from Valerie R.

    •  
    • 18 friends
    • 6 reviews

    La Jolla, CA

    3.0 star rating
    1/2/2012

    Sophisticated hotel but so many flies in the restaurant which made me wonder about the kitchen, they said they were working in it......I hope so!!!

  • Review from Christian G.

    San Diego, CA

    4.0 star rating
    10/18/2011

    How Bizarre, How Bizarre, ...Zanzibar!

    My GAWWWD! The food I had for dinner here was truly exemplary!

    I came to Downtown SD on a Friday night and the first place I wanted to go to said that the wait was about 20-30 minutes over the phone... But when I got to the actual restaurant 10 minutes later, they upped to wait time to an hour! AHHHHH!

    My poor little tummy coudn't handle the delay!  As my date and I wandered the streets of Downtown, only the hustle and bustle of the nightlife could drown out the rumblings in our stomachs.

    "Was that you?" "NO! That was you!!"

    We needed to find some food - fast.  And EFF Ciro's, I wasn't THAT desperate!

    Then I remembered a little cafe/restaurant I had tried a few years back, and remembered it was a pretty chill spot with great food.  So off we went to Zanzibar.  As I anticipated, Zanzibar wasn't packed at all.  Awkwardly waiting at the hostess podium, we failed to notice the sign that would direct us to our next move:

    "SEAT YOURSELF"

    Sure! Instant seating, followed by yummy eating? Don't mind if I do!

    So we plop down at nice little table for two, bathed in the cozy glow of this quaint little restaurant's candlelight.  Our delightfully amicable waitress attended to us promptly, and let us browse over a very appetizing menu.

    After much deliberation, we decided on the Steak & Frites, a Full Order of the Prawns with rice & bread,  and a Side Order of Mashed Potatoes.

    THE STEAK
    - I've been craving steak for a very, very long time, and boy did this steak hit the spot.  I ordered it medium, and it was cooked to perfection.  The frites were a welcomed accompaniment, and I was just very satisfied with my meal.  I did avoid the extra sauce however. Coupled with the flavor of the steak, it was a little overpowering for my taste.  But the steak, as is, was just as savory as you can get.  AHHHH! DAMN I'm hungry!

    THE PRAWNS
    - My date ordered the Full Order thinking it was going to be a light meal as most shrimpies usually are, but when the plate came out, we were definitely WOW'd with the plumpness of these little guys.  A Red Lobster commercial got nothin on this servin of prawns!  Each bite came with a nice juicy little *crunch* to it, and honestly, that whole plate was just very filling!  My date definitely coudn't handle the plate by herself, so I glad enlisted my eating services to her eating endeavors.  The rice was unbelievably delicious, and the bread went really well with the sauce the prawns were drizzled with.  Overall, I was very impressed with the dish.

    THE MASHED POTATOES
    - AH-MAZING! Chunky, flavorful... perfect with the Steak & Frites.

    Zanzibar is advertised as a classy neighborhood cafe, but lurking under the darkness lies a dinner dining debutante, one that is ready to quietly strut her stuff amidst some of Downtown SD's most bourgeousie restaurant socialites.

  • Review from Elle l.

    •  
    • 4 friends
    • 25 reviews

    San Diego, CA

    4.0 star rating
    12/7/2011

    Food - amazing! I had the mango chicken salad (lunch) -- it was delicious and I'll order it again and again! We sat outside, mid-day, and for not being very busy, the service was a little slow, but luckily we had no where to be...Great people watching when you sit on the patio.

  • Review from Danielle C.

    •  
    • 1 friend
    • 7 reviews

    San Diego, CA

    3.0 star rating
    12/13/2011

    The soy chai latte and oatmeal were delicious. The male server was polite and attentive, although we were stuck with a female who acted as if she was annoyed the entire time we were there. I'll pass on the sit-in eating, but maybe I'll stop for another latte if I am in the area.

  • Review from Nathalie R.

    •  
    • 7 friends
    • 66 reviews

    Los Angeles, CA

    4.0 star rating
    9/5/2011

    Been coming here for years. Their coffee is fantastic.

    Most recent visit I purchased a white chocolate mocha and a lemon bar. The bar was absolutely to die for. The mocha was also delicious.

    I rarely drive to Zanzibar and so the parking frustration that others have experience is not a problem. Almost never stay-in on my visits either. It tends to get crowded quick especially on the weekends.

    Will be back soon Zanzibar. Thanks for the good times.

  • Review from Amy F.

    •  
    • 2 friends
    • 6 reviews

    San Diego, CA

    5.0 star rating
    11/9/2011

    Peach mimosas and veggie chili might be the best way to start out your night. My roommate and I have the best nights when we start here.  Splitting a bottle of the house pinot is always a good idea too. And it's walking distance to most of DJ Devoy's spots on weeknights.  And the cherry on top... the fruit tarts are to die for... I would literally take a bullet for them. UH-MA-ZINGGGG.

  • Review from Riley S.

    •  
    • 17 friends
    • 9 reviews

    San Diego, CA

    5.0 star rating
    11/26/2011

    Surprisingly never to crowded. Bomb food and good art!

  • Review from Tanya D.

    Laguna Beach, CA

    4.0 star rating
    10/25/2011

    The sheer number of ingredients in Zanzibar's vegetarian chili brings a smile to my face. Variety reigns supreme at this cute cafe - from a plethora of tea flavors, to sodas and beers, this just isn't the type of place you get bored. Granted, all I've had here are the vegetarian chili and vanilla tea, but I those two items alone made me happy enough to warrant a 4-star experience. Paired with mellow service and a great location, why not stop on by?

  • Review from Mary J.

    Orange County, CA

    5.0 star rating
    3/18/2011 1 Check-in Here

    I love, love, love LOVE this place! :0)

    Favorite place to reunite with friends over breakfast and coffee/tea.

    Ambience is great, it's in PB so you're walking distance from the beach, trendy beach shops, and bars a-plenty.

    Parking is a bit of a challenge, but that comes with the beauty of Pacific Beach... parking a ways and enjoying the scenery and beachy neighborhood atmosphere.

    I just plain love it here. The food, service and drinks are delicious. Prices are reasonable.

    I'm a regular and a fan. :0)

  • Review from Ash R.

    •  
    • 19 friends
    • 36 reviews

    San Diego, CA

    5.0 star rating
    4/4/2011

    I can't say enough good things about this place.

    The food and drinks are incredible (white hot chocolate won my heart!) and the service is awesome. Everyone working here always has a smile on their face and it really does make a difference!

  • Review from Scott U.

    •  
    • 3 friends
    • 46 reviews

    San Diego, CA

    3.0 star rating
    5/12/2011

    Went here the other day for a late lunch. It wasn't that busy. As we scouted around for a good table for our group of four people we had to exclude at least 3 tables because they were in various stages of disarray - from being dirty, to having magazines and newspapers strewn about.

    The two girls who were working at that time could not have been more disinterested and gave us the impression they could not be bothered. They wanted to get back to their gal chat behind the counter. They never visited the table after the food dropped.

    Saving the bad service, the food was good. Everything was fresh. We had a salad and two sandwiches. The grilled sandwiches are really good and they come with a small side of salad which, thankfully, was not overdressed.

  • Review from Jennifer M.

    •  
    • 14 friends
    • 49 reviews

    San Diego, CA

    3.0 star rating
    6/30/2011

    Talking about prime location!

    Love grabbing the coffee & reading the paper while sitting outside & people watch Garnet PB crowd. Last time I was there , no internet. For some reason the menu could use some changing. I am not sure if it is the crowd in PB or what BUT I love the Downtown location better. I guess I should yelp that one too!

  • Review from Abby W.

    San Diego, CA

    3.0 star rating
    5/21/2011

    My friend and I were looking for a place for brunch and decided to check out Zanzibar in PB. As is typical with PB, parking can be a pain so plan accordingly. We sat outside in the sidewalk cafe area, which was nice on a sunny spring day, and I liked the ambiance.

    The food was decent but not amazing. I opted for the acai berry bowl, which I've only had one other time, also in PB. It was a huge bowl, and pretty tasty, but in hindsight I wish I would have ordered something more substantial, like a sandwich. I can't fault the restaurant for my decision though. I'd like to go back sometime and try the chicken pesto sandwich.

    Overall, I'd bump Zanzibar to a 3.5 star for now.

  • Review from Jennifer P.

    •  
    • 0 friends
    • 59 reviews

    Chicago, IL

    5.0 star rating
    10/27/2011

    Our hotel suggested this place for breakfast and I'm so glad they did!  It was a very quiet spot on a Monday morning.  My husband claims the omelet he got here to be one of the best that he's ever had. I had a yummy egg & cheese bagel sandwich.  The fruit served with both of our dishes was very fresh.  We enjoyed this place very much.  I wish there was one in Chicago!

  • Review from scott n.

    •  
    • 40 friends
    • 125 reviews

    Redondo Beach, CA

    4.0 star rating
    10/16/2011 2 Check-ins Here

    I ended up here since it is across the street from the new OTM Fight shop. This place was really yumi. I had a good pesto chicken sandwich.  Only bummer was the serving size was small so i was still hungry. Great for a healthy snack but not a full meal if you are a hungry guy.

  • Review from Sheryl H.

    •  
    • 7 friends
    • 81 reviews

    San Diego, CA

    4.0 star rating
    12/18/2011

    this place is so intimate and cozy. the ambiance is perfect and not crowded feeling as you would feel with a lot of places downtown. they have a large variety of options to choose from. lots of vegetarian options. and the food came out quickly. i came with a large party and i had a taste of everyone's food and everything was good! even the simplest cheese platter was extraordinary. i had the steak and frites which you would think oh how much more can they do with just steak and fries but their meat was a good cut, well seasoned and so were their fries.

  • Review from Marisa A.

    •  
    • 14 friends
    • 2 reviews

    San Diego, CA

    4.0 star rating
    10/18/2011

    This place is the perfect place to run in and grab a quick bite to eat without having to deal with the hassle of a restaurant. They serve breakfast all day long too! Every time I have made it Zanzibar I have tried something different and so far everything was outstanding!

  • Review from Corinne M.

    •  
    • 0 friends
    • 7 reviews

    El Cajon, CA

    4.0 star rating
    6/18/2011

    I haven't been to Zanzibar since the early '90's. I returned with a friend of mine yesterday morning, and was impressed with the new decor. I remember this place as an "indie" music coffeeshop with a huge central window that had been smashed out, as well as trashed bathrooms.

    The upgrades were very well done, and the bathroom was immaculate. It was more of a cafe style, rather than a place to have coffee and wait until it was safe to drive home.

    I ordered coffee and the avocado, fontina, cilantro, and tomato omelette with an English muffin. My friend ordered the Health Nut omelette with multigrain toast and coffee. The coffee was delicious and strong.

    When our orders arrived, mine came with multigrain toast instead of the English muffin. Also, our two omelettes appeared to be identical, with my omelette not only missing the avocado, but also the cilantro. It had spinach and onions, instead. The server seemed to have no idea what I was talking about when I asked if this was correct, as my omelette was different on the menu. She did bring me a plate of sliced avocado, however, which was nice.

    I wasn't in the mood to argue with anyone yesterday, so I finished my plate. It was incredibly delicious.

    Although my order was wrong, I will definitely go back. Four stars for ambience, friendly staff, and memories.

  • Review from Joe M.

    •  
    • 1 friend
    • 5 reviews

    San Diego, CA

    1.0 star rating
    10/8/2011

    ($40 for coffee, juice, tea, and two breakfast plates)  The service was really slow! Our food came out seperately, and the first plate was barely warm..  Top it all off with flies constantly stopping by your table!  I won't be back at this place..

  • Review from Nina V.

    •  
    • 13 friends
    • 16 reviews

    San Diego, CA

    1.0 star rating
    6/28/2011

    This review is for their catering service.  I used Zanzibar to cater lunch for an event at work last October.   We ordered the executive boxed lunch.  It came in a huge box, but the inside lacked substance.  I remember the sandwiches were dry, and there was a fruit or a cookie in each box. I felt like I could have put that box together with a sandwich, a cookie, and a piece of fruit.  It wasn't impressive.  I expect more from a restaurant that does catering.  Won't be using them again for any catering needs.

  • Review from Nadia C.

    •  
    • 1849 friends
    • 264 reviews

    Rockwall, TX

    5.0 star rating
    9/29/2010 ROTD 10/2/2011

    OMG! Shes baaaaaack!!

    So I have been missing Yelp dreadfully over this past month or so! My schedule has kept so busy and insane that I have barely had the chance to go out anywhere, much less try somewhere new.

    But alas, I found time and I found a new love.

    The two 'roommate' fellas and I were enjoying a long walk around PB/La Jolla when we (mostly me right away) realized we were starving.

    I decided I was in the mood for a sammy so off we went to find one.

    Walked past Pita Pit and managed to resist their chicken caesar pita somehow.

    Walked past all the bars crammed full of crazy football fans.

    Refused to go to Which Wich because I do not really like that place beyond the chips.

    Actually walked past Zanzibar and were heading toward Chalkboard Deli (which was strangely closed on our walk out) when we decided to try somewhere new!

    GOOD CALL!

    I ordered a turkey club, sans my mortal enemy, avocado. One of my friends ordered a turkey and Brie and the other ordered some sammy with bacon and avocado I think.

    Our sandiwches came out fairly quickly and this fat girl was thrilled about that for sure.

    My sandwich was delicous. You could just about put bacon on poop and I would love it but even beyond the bacon, this sandwich was so good. The bread had an amazing texture. The turkey was thick sliced and delicious. Bacon = bomb, of course. I was a little bummed that Id forgotten club sandwiches are made with three slices of bread because Im fairly afraid of carbs. I was even more bummed that I lost all the spicy mayonnaise when I took the middle slice of bread out of my sandwich. /fail. ): Even fat girls have to compromise sometimes I guess...

    And the side salad that came with it was perfect as well. I loved the light dressing on the top.

    My friends died over their sandwiches too so that is always a good sign.

    We finished off with a ricarelli (sp?) cookie which has an almond paste base and is hard on the outside and soft on the inside. AWESOME! Definitely love that too.

    At $8.95 a sandwich, they were priced good enough for me so I definitely forsee us going back here in the very near future! (:

  • Review from E A.

    •  
    • 28 friends
    • 27 reviews

    San Diego, CA

    3.0 star rating
    2/15/2011

    This place might deserve 4 stars for breakfast, but the lunch underperformed. We waited an hour for one plate each, salad entrees. We were a large party, but the place was empty since we were there for a later lunch.

    The tuna was good, and the salad was ok, but the service was very slow. I'll give this place another shot for breakfast, but I won't be returning for lunch.

  • Review from Allie T.

    •  
    • 6 friends
    • 30 reviews

    San Diego, CA

    5.0 star rating
    9/6/2011

    Zanzibar is by far my favorite lunch spot in Pacific Beach. Their sandwiches and salads are always fresh and delicious. My favorite is the "Smoked Chicken and Black Bean Quesadilla". Also, the "Citrus Vinaigrette" that comes with the "Chopped Summer Salad" is amazing! Although it can get busy on the weekends, I've never had to wait very long, even to sit outside. A great place to come relax and people watch on a lazy afternoon.

  • Review from Bubba N.

    •  
    • 84 friends
    • 225 reviews

    La Mesa, CA

    4.0 star rating
    6/7/2011

    i've been here like 6 times, over the years.  always just as good as starbucks w/better prices. always very nice staff.  relaxing, classy, clean environment.  now they have bottled beer & wines.  other night i had a nice moroccan green iced tea & a stone brew for $7.52 .  what are those peas/beans you get at sushi restaurants?  theirs are really good.
    never tried their entrees & desserts.  i always go at night time, after dinner & it's never crowded then.  nice patio seating

  • Review from Jane S.

    •  
    • 114 friends
    • 136 reviews

    San Diego, CA

    3.0 star rating
    8/23/2011 2 photos

    so we wanted to go to Isabel's Cantina (literally, my favorite lunch spot in Pacific Beach, review to come!!) but it was closed for a private party...Zanzibar is kind of like the same food-lunch food, salads & sandwiches but have an added coffee bar and cake selection.

    i got the turkey pesto panini & it was okay. it wasn't out of this world, or anything to rave about, but it was satisfying. only complaint was that the bread was a little dry & it took a long time to get out our order.

    we ordered a side of the cheesy fries which were a little too cheesy, even for me (& this is coming from a girl who could eat cheese with ANYTHING) but i preferred the plain fried potatoes we had to the cheesy ones.

    the service was alright, although it seemed like the waitress was a little abrupt and kind of slow.

    i might go back if i'm hungry, walking past, but there are a bunch of places to go in PB, so wouldn't say this is on my top 5 list.

  • Review from Cecilia S.

    San Francisco, CA

    4.0 star rating
    2/16/2011

    This place seems like it'd be really nice on a warm and sunny day.  Today, unfortunately, was rainy and cold.  There's an outdoor seating area at the front of the coffee shop, so it's a nice place to relax and see all the hustle and bustle of Garnet Ave.  It's centrally located in PB - there are lots of boutiques and restaurant/bars nearby.  

    I like the ambiance there - very urban and traditional.  I always get the iced chai tea lattle.  They have a nice selection of cakes and pastries as well.  I've never been here for an actual meal, but from the looks of the food on the other tables, I think it's worth a shot.  I saw a lot of people drinking wine there too.  It's a nice place for a casual hang out.  I'd study here too, but there's no wi-fi and I didn't see any outlets.  But the girls that work there are really sweet, the drinks are great, and overall it's a nice place.

  • Review from Sunny W.

    Mountain View, CA

    4.0 star rating
    2/11/2011

    I was a frequent visitor to Zanzibar when I traveled to SD.  I haven't tried a lot on their menu but I can vouch for their coffee, lemonade, and scrambles.  I really enjoy their coffee and have made trips to that cafe just for it.

    You can't go wrong with the scrambles and the side of rosemary potatoes they serve are really that good, see I'm already drooling...

    The place seems to be always busy and its just blocks from the beach with outdoor seating too so if you enjoy people watching, this is the place for you.

  • Review from Susan C.

    •  
    • 93 friends
    • 125 reviews

    Granada Hills, CA

    4.0 star rating
    8/6/2010 4 photos

    Amazing service? Yes, TOP (emphasis added) notch.
    Loved the ambiance? Definitely.

    This place undoubtedly brought a warm feeling to my heart, and a twinkle to my eye, but to be honest, their Mango Chicken Salad didn't exactly tickle my taste: The fruit wasn't ripe, and the chicken was comparable to the packaged microwave-ready meat next to the dairy department of a grocery store.

    The entree was definitely more than edible, but it didn't have the close-your-eyes-and-savor-the-yum factor. Do you know what I mean?

    Regardless, though, it was served in such a friendly manner, that I couldn't help but enjoy it. It's like the holiday sweater that you get from grandma on Christmas Day: you're not exactly sure how you feel about it, but you want to love it because it's from sweet ol' granny.

    I have a feeling that dropping by for breakfast will raise my opinion of this place, but until then, I have high hopes.

    Zanzibar, please don't disappoint. I really want to love you.

  • Review from Rhan K.

    •  
    • 52 friends
    • 127 reviews

    Manhattan, NY

    2.0 star rating
    3/2/2011 1 Check-in Here

    I am a bit mixed on my feelings about this place.
    Parking for this place is HORRIBLE.  let me just get that out there.  it is horrible, so keep that in mind.  

    The food wasn't too bad, but it also wasn't life changing in my mind.  I got the caprese sandwich and it was just very mediocre.  

    The lack of wifi and mediocre food makes this place eh.  I give this place some stars because it is really cute (the ambiance is what I expect from a cafe and that is a vibe I haven't seen around here in a while, so I liked it).

    Service is also slow.  I waited like 20 minutes to get my check after I was ready to leave because no one would even look towards my table to see if I was close to ready to leave.

  • Review from Zenia P.

    •  
    • 26 friends
    • 46 reviews

    San Diego, CA

    3.0 star rating
    3/18/2011 1 Check-in Here

    I usually try to stay away from PB due to having a difficult time finding free parking or having to pay for parking. I ended up riding with a friend who wanted to go to this cafe for lunch.

    Not realizing that the paper menus were right in front of our faces as we entered the cafe, we were guided to take a seat at a table. We sat for quite some time before we were acknowledged. Since there was a big group of people and not enough wait staff at the time, we waited patiently. A little too patient that our stomachs (at least mine) was grumbling. Finally after asking for some menus, we were given a few minutes or so to decide.

    I recommend the Iced Chai drink to start. I ordered the Artichoke, Tomato & Eggplant open-faced sandwich on their homemade Focaccia Bread. It was delicious. I noticed they also have a display of desserts. Breakfast is served all day.

    If I end up going to PB again, I will try other items on this menu. I now know to get the menu before being seated. It was my first visit to this cafe. Maybe I'll have a better experience the second time around...

  • Review from Kevin K.

    •  
    • 43 friends
    • 34 reviews

    San Diego, CA

    3.0 star rating
    2/20/2011

    Service: Excellent
    Food: Excellent
    Atmosphere: Great

    WIFI: NON-EXISTENT!

    Who doesn't have wifi in this day and age?

    They would do 2x as much business if they simply put in wifi. It can't cost very much. Not sure why they don't have it. For such a good place to go for lunch, dinner, or just to hang out, I'm withholding the last 2 stars for the wifi!

  • Review from Myhang H.

    San Diego, CA

    4.0 star rating
    11/5/2010

    I have only been here for breakfast but it was a great experience every time. The service is superb, the ambiance is casual, fun and good for people watching. Lots of runners going by. Close to the beach. I come here after my runs sometimes and never feel guilty when I leave. It's the gourmet breakfast place that is healthier than most! Everything served is fresh and colorful. They find clever ways of sneaking veggies into your favorite breakfast dishes without it tasting like its boring vegetarian!

    The breakdown:
    Eggs benedict is my favorite! It's served with grilled tomato and bacon and come with a basil Hollandaise sauce! I had never had basil hollandaise before. I've yet to find a place that has it!  It's like Hollandaise sauce got a makeover and everyone who thought it was gross before is now gaga over it! The icing on the cake would have to be the rosemary potatoes served on the side! They are heavenly! I LOVE potatoes. Especially rosemary potatoes.

    Breakfast burrito- this is the reason why its 4 stars instead of 5. There's nothing much wrong with it, it's just that I could get it for $3 instead of $11 at Filibertos and it would take less time to get it, and I it would taste better!

    Breakfast panini- two eggs with tomato on grilled bread served with rosemary potatoes and fruit! Hooray for this one!

    I need to come try their lunch or dinner items sometime!

1 to 40 of 211 (25 Filtered) |  
Page: 1 2 3 4 5 6
Write a Review

Deals Nearby

More »

People Who Viewed This Also Viewed...

People Viewed This After Searching For...