Heard about this place from a few folks through the years, so I wanted to check it out. Walked over here while on a lunch break attending an event at the Convention Center. Caught them right before they were about to close, but they very graciously invited us in. Had an amazing breakfast with eggs, sausage and potatoes. That sausage patty is something special! Restaurant is clean and intimate. Service was fast and very friendly. I would go here again. read more

Yuuup! The hype is real! The waffles here are soooo amazing! I want to try them all! They didn't even taste like waffles, as other reviews have said. Tasted like straight up corn bread that happened to be waffle shaped! Plenty of choices for breakfast but we kept it simple. Had the Corn Beef Hash which came with toast & 3 eggs any style. This dish is definitely shareable, as well as the waffle, but you probably won't want to share that! We got an order of their famous Blueberry Waffle (most popular thing on the menu) and it did not disappoint! We didn't have to wait long for a table for two. Got seated inside which was a pretty crammed. Our waiter was nice enough, but he seemed rushed which in turn made us feel rushed. The food did come out in a timely manner and folks were in and out, but I kind of wanted to sit there and enjoy a little more, if that makes sense? Just seemed like a 'fast food' sit down. That's why the review is only 4 stars. If we felt a little more at ease, we probably would've enjoyed our breakfast a little more. All in all Cafe 222 is a great breakfast/brunch option! Try their amazing waffles! read more

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Amazing service, such great staff Anda the food is top tier. Can't wait to come back! read more

Cafe 222 - My daughters waffle without Nutella and super fresh strawberries and bananas - Breakfast & Brunch Near Me - San Diego, California

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Stumbled across this quant little cafe this morning. WHAT A HIDDEN TREASURE! For a Sunday morning at 9:30am...there was no wait but you could tell the restaurant was busy. The inside of the cafe definitely made me feel like I was thrown back in time with a beautiful pop of colors. Extremely clean and great service. I ordered the Super Biscuits and Gravy. Hands down the best I've ever had. The biscuits were still light and fluffy, the gravy was bursting with flavor and the potatoes were cooked to perfection. DO NOT PASS UP THIS PLACE! read more

Cafe 222 - Super Biscuits and Gravy - Breakfast & Brunch Near Me - San Diego, California

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I came back after 3 years for breakfast to give it another shot and the service was impeccable, the food was delicious and they were very friendly to my dog as well and brought him a water bowl. Will come back! read more

First time at Cafe 222. We chose Cafe 222 because of the Food Network and Travel Channel coverage. We arrived at 11:00 on a Friday morning and it was 1/4 full. We were greeted, seated and welcomed within 2 mins. Our server, Senace, offered us drinks right away. As soon as our coffee and juice arrived, we ordered brunch. My wife got the All American whilst I got the PB & Banana French Toast, as seen on TV. The juice, sadly, was canned OJ. A bit disappointed but they advertised that they had a small kitchen, so canned juice made sense. The American plate was huge. Two eggs, four small sausages, a mound of onion and bell pepper skillet potatoes, plus two large slices of buttered bread. Everything was cooked properly and had good flavor. My PB & B Stuffed French Toast was exactly as advertised: three half-slices of gooey goodness, served with whipped butter, maple syrup and dusted with powdered sugar. Yum! A special shout out to Senace: he was polite, knowledgeable, energetic and a smile factory. He was a real bright spot in a small diner. read more

Some friends visiting town surprised me and brought me a waffle from Cafe 222... I can confirm that it is as delicious as described in Gourmet Magazine. The car smelled wonderful after they drove it over to me! The waffle itself was perfectly prepared, and I would love to actually visit 222 sometime in person as well. read more

Cafe 222 - Signature Waffle, featured in Gourmet Magazine! - Breakfast & Brunch Near Me - San Diego, California

Nice cafe downtown. Menu is excellent with their gourmet waffles taking center stage. Great service. I had the corn/blueberry waffle which was delicious. My wife had the huevos rancheros and loved it as well. Good place but pricey. And what was an unpleasant surprise was seeing the unannounced line item on our final bill saying "4% Surcharge". That's definitely not customer friendly. Just raise your prices by 4% and don't surprise me. Food and service 5 stars. BS surprise surcharge knocks my rating to a 3. I know it's not a big deal for the restaurant, but I will never go back. read more

Fantastic experience! Great food, and top-notch service. Senad was our server, and I can't remember having better service... maybe ever? No hyperbole. Keep it up! read more

They seemed to have survived and thrived through the pandemic. I have a few items I always rotate depending on if I want sweet or savory. Corned beef hash (ask for it to be browned), peanut butter banana french toast, pancakes, blueberry cornbread waffle, and their turkey sausage patties- remain great staples. Those turkey sausage patties are some of the best I've ever had. So full of flavor. I'd skip the biscuits and gravy- lacks flavor/seasoning, sausage, and the biscuit is just ok. Always a line here so come early. Always great service. Still remains a favorite. read more

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Absolutely awesome breakfast/brunch spot! We ordered pick-up from here one day and then it was so good we went back and ate at the restaurant 2 days later! The pick-up order was ready on time and brought out quick and when we ordered in person the food came out quick too. Good coffee and tasty mocha. Great pancakes, Benedict, breakfast burrito and of course their famous peanut butter & banana stuffed French toast! read more

This place was very yummy. i would recommend this place. Our server was very nice. I would not recommend the chocolate milk as it is very sweet. read more

Cafe 222 - Breakfast & Brunch Near Me - San Diego, California

I visited this place with high hopes but left thoroughly disappointed. The seating was cramped, making it uncomfortable to even move. It felt like a sauna thanks to the heat from the kitchen that you're seated right next to, which was unbearable. The prices were outrageous for the quality and portion sizes; I've had better meals for half the price elsewhere. Our waiter was a nice older gentleman but the poor guy was sweating and out of breath running around attending all the tables by himself. To top it off, the coffee tasted like it was brewed from dirt. When adding creamer, it left dairy flakes floating on top that never mixed in. It was bitter and unpleasant, completely ruining what little enjoyment I could salvage from the visit. We ended up at a well known and trusted Broken Yolk close by with a great experience and cheaper than 222 would've been. Full disclosure, our family got up and left after tasting the dirt flavored coffee and cancelled our order so we didn't take the risk of staying to eat. Overall, a regrettable experience that I wouldn't wish upon anyone. Save your money and find somewhere else to dine. read more

I can't believe I've never reviewed this place! Absolutely my favorite breakfast place, the food is amazing, the service is beyond exceptional - it is genuinely warm as well; the cafe itself is whimsically decorated and both indoors on a chilly day and outdoors on a fine day are atmospherically perfect. My favorite thing is the blueberry cornbread waffle and I always get a side of the griddled potatoes. The texture of the cornbread waffle is crunchy and wholesome without being too gritty, and the sweet pops of blueberries stand out in the slight savoriness of the cornbread. The griddled potatoes are always cooked perfectly with soft insides and crunchy outsides with just a few extra crunchy extra dark bits for that diner char, and the peppers and onions are a nice mix of still crunchy and well caramelized for a satisfying bite. Other delicious items here include the pumpkin waffle, which is just as good in the spring as in the fall, the chili cornbread waffle (a savory item, but just try it with no sour cream but a little maple syrup on it...sweet/savory goodness!), and the peanut butter and banana stuffed French toast of legend. Also, the black coffee doesn't fall short and is a great counterpoint to a sweet waffle! Thank you Cafe 222 for many years of epic breakfasts! read more

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Discovered this small local biz a few years ago and so happy it is thriving. Friendly quick service, comfort breakfast food with coffee hit the spot!! read more

Good!u have to expect a line because it is so crowded and one cashier!Otherwize nice little cafe.

We love coming to this place for breakfast. They've got a great outdoor seating area, and the staff is super nice. I got the blueberry cornbread waffle and it was great. Soft and crunchy cornbread with blueberries that pop when you bite into them...they're very very good. My husband got the pumpkin waffle, and he described it as pumpkin pie for breakfast. If you have young kids, they have bendy straws, so take that for what it is. read more

Loved it all! Pumpkin waffle was amazing, service was nice and friendly. Great place, wish I lived closer so I could go more often

Really friendly service, was lucky to get a seat right away on a very busy Saturday morning. The waffle was delicious and very thick! Sausages were on point and the eggs came out to a perfect medium! read more

Cafe 222 - Waffle Combo - Breakfast & Brunch Near Me - San Diego, California

This was an amazing find for us! We were hungry for breakfast, but wanted something casual. After scanning the menu, we were delighted to find out that this was on Food Network Best Thing I Ever Ate! Of course I had to order the signature dish - a peanut butter and banana French Toast. I watched Bobby Flays video while we waited to be served and it was as delicious as promised, just wish I lived closer! read more

Food: 3.5/5 Service: 3.5/5 Ambiance: 3/5 Overall: A long wait for some some hits and misses. The extended review... Food: Cornmeal Blueberry Waffle - 4/5 - Now this was very tasty. Good flavor and good texture. My favorite of the two dishes I ordered. Peanut Butter French Toast - 3/5 - This was just ok. I think there was more hype walking into it. Definitely a good mix of banana and pb flavor but the French Toast itself was fairly mediocre. Sausage patties - 3/5 -Good portion but fairly flat and pretty average in taste. Service: Ok service. Ambiance: Very casual. Be aware there isn't a whole lot of seating so there will be a wait. read more

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Very cute cafe with AMAZING breakfast food. When you want pancakes this is exactly the pancake you want. When you want potatoes (properly seasoned) these are the potatoes you want. Even the sausage tasted better than normal! My bf got the biscuits and gravy and said they were delicious as well. It's a little tight in the restaurant size wise but on most beautiful SD days I'm sure the patio is filled with people. We came on a Sunday morning and were able to sit down right away. Our waiter was the sweetest, very attentive and quick! 10/10 totally recommend stopping by here read more

Cafe 222 - Super Biscuits and Gravy very good! - Breakfast & Brunch Near Me - San Diego, California

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Good spot for brunch when you don't want to wait in line for others nearby. We came here around noon on a Saturday and didn't wait more than 10-15 minutes. Decent sized menu and friendly staff. My Nutella waffle with strawberries was delicious and my friend's dishes were good too. Portion sizes are good. They don't squeeze their OJ on site but it still tasted fresh. Only things I didn't love were that they don't take Amex and the feeling of being rushed with the check being dropped right after the food, which is common with high volume fast spots like this one. Luckily we came toward the end of the rush so we could sit and enjoy longer without feeling guilty. read more

Cafe 222 - Breakfast & Brunch Near Me - San Diego, California

Definitely a place to try! Great service, spaced out seating and definitely obeying COVID social distancing rules. It was extremely hard to decide what to order. Everyone at every table ordered something different. The biscuit and gravy smelled amazing. I heart the peanut butter stuffed French toast is amazing. However I'm simple I got the 2 plus 2, my cousin got the Swiss and ham scramble, and my sister got the butter milk waffle with strawberries instead. Oh they always have FRESH pressed OJ ... get it Great place I'd come again read more

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We have been coming here for years! Always great food! I always recommend the Peanut Butter and Banana French toast-duh, the tamale and eggs with beans and the sleeper her chili is to die for. Although, I love a really spicy chili this one is not real spicy but the flavor is amazing- If you're lucky they will serve a side of it for you. Chili normally comes with the cornbread waffle! Haven't found anything I dislike on Cafe 222's menu! Highly recommend! read more

Cafe 222 - Tamale with mexican gravy, beans and over medium eggs! - Breakfast & Brunch Near Me - San Diego, California

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I was looking for a good breakfast spot while visiting SD. This place only serves breakfast and it was so good. The only thing I wish they had was flavored coffee creamer. read more

Found this cute place walking from our hotel. The food was delicious, ambience was adorable and the service was top notch. Everyone here was super friendly and helpful with what you order. Will definitely come back when we visit San Diego. read more

Went here recently for breakfast. Small space, but still inviting and cozy. Despite it being a weekday, the place was super busy. As far as I could see only 2 servers were working and they were both hustling and doing a great job. Our service was fast and friendly, I didn't catch our serves name but he was awesome. The food came out quickly and tasted great- kudos to the guys in the kitchen! I will definitely be back next time I'm in the area. read more

Staff/Setting: The staff here is top-notch. Very friendly every time I've visited. Mostly outdoor seating here, but still comfortable. Try to sit at the patio if you can. Food: This is my vote for the best breakfast in SD. Everything here is delicious. The standouts for me are the waffles and the home fries that come with many of the dishes. Very flavorful! The dirty potatoes are those same potatoes covered in gravy and cheese. Heaven. Overall: My highest of recommendations for breakfast in SD. In a town with a lot of breakfast options, this place stands out with its service and unique, delicious food. Give this place a try! read more

Cafe 222 - Dirty Potatoes - Breakfast & Brunch Near Me - San Diego, California

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Came here for breakfast today and ordered the Benedict Arnold (eggs Benedict with tomato and spinach rather than Canadian bacon) and orange juice. It was easily the best eggs Benedict I've EVER had and probably my best meal in San Diego!! (I was here on a conference for 4 days.) Not only was the food absolutely delicious, but the wait staff was amazing! Super attentive - almost too attentive, I got asked how everything was going 5 or 6 times in the 30-45 minutes I was there, but I didn't care because everyone was so so sweet! My main waiter even noticed that I wasn't eating most of the English muffins and offered to give me a cup of fruit instead! I was already way too full so I declined the fruit but it was a really nice gesture/offer. I could tell there were regulars based on some people's interactions with the waiters, and honestly if I lived in San Diego I would probably be a regular here too! read more

Cafe 222 - Benedict Arnold (I cut into one of the eggs) - Breakfast & Brunch Near Me - San Diego, California

The food was delicious, and portion sizes were very generous. The servers were very kind and attentive. The owner took our name and told us there was about a 20-minute wait, but she was very understanding of how we as customers might possibly be feeling about waiting. That made the wait not seem bad at all. A little acknowledgment goes a long way. This is a great spot to check out if in the area. My husband and I would definitely eat here again. The food is on point! read more

Yup, this place deserves all the 5 stars they have. Adorable spot, servers and staff all really friendly and those WAFFLES. Serioulsy, come here for the waffles if nothing else, but our breakfast burrito was also absolutely delicious. Love this place and will be dreaming of those waffles until we can come back read more

Love Socal? Well do you love true California laid back attitude? Tired and need to just chill way out? Cafe 222 sends out these vibes as soon as you walk onto the patio. What I consider a drawback with San D is finding flaw with Yelp 4 or 5 ratings. I am sticking with 4 or better spots and so far they hit on 5. Staffing has to be an issue because Socal folks are demanding of great service. So far they deliver great folks table to table, restaurant to restaurant. Loving the Socal tude. The food. Wicked good. Chunky home fries. Spam. Really came through with the Spam. Eggs a perfect over medium. Sitting on a patio with a gentle breeze, nice plants, just enough morning sunshine and Cafe 222 doing their best to spoil this Texan. read more

Cafe 222 - SPAAAAAAAMMMM! This is a dream. Has to be. - Breakfast & Brunch Near Me - San Diego, California

OMG. Yes, go out of your way to eat here. If you love pancakes and/or french toast plus peanut butter or Oreos, you will be in heaven! We sat outside on a beautiful breezy day and service was great too. Enjoy! read more

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Negatives: Corn beef hash was too tough -2 stars. Neutral: Don't expect fresh squeezed orange juice. Sit indoors, the patio gets pretty cold Positives: GREAT Chili and cheese cornbread waffle! Waffles are fantastic. GREAT service! Server (Derrick(?)) spent a lot of time to fixing the heater to turn it on for us read more

Cafe 222 - Chili and Cornbread Waffle - Breakfast & Brunch Near Me - San Diego, California

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The criteria to review have changed. In today's environment with situations created by covid, in my opinion, any entity that has maintained even a %70 performance is worthy of a trophy. The day my wife and i visited this restaurant, they were short staffed by over %50 But they managed to maintain good service. The great people working here were literally RUNNING around to keep the machine running. Kudos. The amount of dedication was admirable. The food was great too. Note to management: give your team a great bonus. They are lifesavers. read more

Cafe 222 - Pancake with Nutella and bananas. - Breakfast & Brunch Near Me - San Diego, California

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Much better than a lot of the trendy bfast spots around. Small menu but everything came out quick and was excellent. Dining area is super cramped so it's a get in and get out deal. One of the few places that I've eaten in SD that's worth a return visit read more

We arrived hungry and departed completely satisfied. We were promptly greeted and promptly seated by the staff. Our waitress warmly welcomed us with great efficiency. The Flavortown breakfast burrito was a delightful and shareable dish. As for their specialty, the Peanut Butter and Banana French Toast, it was absolutely on point in terms of taste and presentation. read more

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Cafe 222 was a nice little cafe they were very busy the day I went, we end up sitting out on the balcony which was nice it was raining and we had large suitcases with us, the owner was so very nice even helping us store our luggage away while we ate. There was a nice selection of breakfast food; I really wanted to try the waffles because they looked amazing from all the photos on yelp. I order the pumpkin waffles and made it combo, with eggs and sausage; I would say the flavoring was so so, like not extremely tasty but it was not gross either, it was simply ok. I think it was something good to try and I would go back if I am looking for a simple breakfast. read more

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Great spot for breakfast. Corned beef hash is delicious. They have some outrageous waffle flavors that are worth trying. I wish they had these back east read more