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    Cafe La Maze

    4.1 (159 reviews)
    Closed 11:00 am - 10:00 pm
    Updated 3 months ago

    Cafe La Maze Photos

    CAFE LA MAZE ATMOSPHERE

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    Reviews With Photos - Cafe La Maze

    Dinner
    Charles C.

    Café La Maze is very unusual restaurant located in the unfashionable inductrial suburb of National City. The exit you should take from the 805 Freeway South is Plaza Boulevard. Then you will travel westbound about one mile. Next, you will turn left (south) down busy Highland Avenue (there is a Walmart store nearby) and thereafter you arrive at the restaurant, which will be on your left (the East side of the street). The flossy décor of the spacious dining room is deliciously retro. There are blavk and white portrtaits of Hollywood royalty lining the walls behind each red-leather-tufted booth. Many of these celebtrated individuals used to dine at Café La Maze on their way down from Beverly Hills to see the races in Caliente in Tijuana, Mexico. Beware of the New York Steak. It can be tough to the point of inability to cut it at all. The Filet Mignon may be the preferred option to avoid that issue.

    Monica A.

    Dinner at Cafe La Maze..... We had to give it a try with the new ownership. Still very yummy. Ooooh & apparently I like beets now. #Workiversary #Celebrating25 #SteakIsGreat #DiningWithTheAndersons

    Caesar salad
    Kasey Y.

    Visiting San Diego for the weekend, we were craving a great steak and thought it would be fun to check out a local spot and splurge on a tomahawk for two at Cafe La Maze. Unfortunately, this turned into one of the most disappointing dining experiences we've had. We came in around 8 PM expecting a bit of a wait, but after an hour and a half, our food still hadn't arrived. By the time it finally came out--nearly 1 hour and 50 minutes after we sat down--we were already beyond frustrated. Then came the bigger issue: the steak itself. The tomahawk was completely overcooked, nowhere near what we ordered. To make things worse, it was served pre-sliced, and it honestly looked like part of the steak had been swapped out. We noticed the end piece of the tomahawk on the plate, but a few slices at the end of the steak were pink in a way that didn't match the rest--it was pretty obvious something wasn't right. Service didn't help the situation either. Our waitress seemed overwhelmed and frazzled the entire time, and we never really felt taken care of. The manager did try to make things right, which we appreciated, but at that point the experience had already gone downhill. Overall, we left disappointed and still hungry. For a meal we were genuinely excited about, this was a huge letdown.

    Menu
    Jackie T.

    Great food and service. Jasmine was so sweet and attentive to our party of 6. The prime rib here is always on point. The onion rings were huge and they definitely did not pull tight with the portions. Thank you Cafe La Maze for your hospitality and service. See you soon.

    Manny and Kim were the best everrr!! Made me feel so welcomed! I love them! Thank you so much for your hospitality

    Christopher G.

    This is the Second time I went to this place to cafe La Maze and I ordered the Rib eye and Lobster tail and they literally took forever and a day to bring it out to me. I can tell they felt like I wasn't gonna pay BECAUSE of the time it took to come out. We got in before another couple and they brought their food out first. I don't think I'll be back again ever.

    Cafe La Maze History
    John S.

    They just started doing Buffet on 4/12/26. It is everyday 11-4PM with a couple options for beverages included. I believe the cost is $29.99 per person. I had to try it out. They had some wonderful beef ribs that were cooked until the meat was very tender and close to falling off the bone. There was a decent amount of meat on each bone and it was very satisfying. There was a green salad and a caesar salad option. Very tasty. A few pasta choices with a shell and green olive pasta. This one I liked very much. I love me some olives. The second dish as a fettuccine with zucchini and shrimp. These weren't large shrimp at all, they were about the size of a dime, the same kind you'd find in a shrimp cup o noodles. Corn on the Cobb, garlic mashed potatoes and a rice pilaf rounded out the buffet along with some sliced fruit and a few soup options. Service was excellent and the ambiance is slightly dark as usual in a steakhouse setting. I probably should give them more time to get things dialed in before coming back for the Buffet. From what I have seen the Beef Ribs were really the only protein choice, and even though they were delicious I thought they'd have chicken and or fish to try. Will always come back for the Prime Rib sandwich and some Shrimo scampi!

    Darren G.

    Great dinner, great experience Manny was the best bartender I've had here ever. Come here for great prime rib and great cocktails at the bar with Manny!

    Thank you for proving my point by lying about my reservation time
    Suhey N.

    Worst customer service I received. I made reservations to celebrate my mother. After check in we waited 30 minutes and the Host ignored us and sat a couple that came in 20 minutes after our arrival. When brought the situation to the male host, he mentioned that my table for 3 was ready (my reservation was for 2). I decided to cancel my reservation, because the lack of customer service is concerning. The worst part is that I had brought my mother here since this place had many good memories for her, but now I regret bring her here for mother's day

    Margarita
    bub s.

    Bekah's 30th birthday. We were headed up to Convoy and then she decided she didn't feel like Korean. How about BJ's? I asked her, do you like Steakhouses? Yes, she said. I then said, trust me. That's how we ended up at Cafe La Maze. Cafe La maze still has that old school Hollywood glamour. The rich red leather gives off an intimacy of sharing a secret with the spirits that have inhabited this spot for the last 90 years. A cool darkness exudes the atmosphere like one of your favorite 70s movies. Frank Sinatra singing in the background while Marlene Dietrich stares seductively from a smoky black and white photograph. Roxanne, beautiful and gracious, was our server. Bekah and Kassie loved her, and that's amazing in itself. We started with drinks, the girls trying their delicious margaritas while I sipped on a coke, someone had to drive. The girls loved their drinks and shared one more before our dinner was over. I got the maze cut (16 oz.) of prime rib and it was delicious. I like mine medium rare and it was that. Like butter. The girls shared their Baby Back Ribs and neither could finish. Had a very smoky flavor to their bbq sauce, it was yummy! We told Roxanne it was Bekah's birthday and they obliged us with cheesecake and a song, it was very sweet and my kid loved it. She said it was one of her best birthday dinners ever. Sucks being born between Christmas and New Years. I think we have found our new celebration restaurant although it's been here the whole time, calling out to us. Thanks Roxanne for the excellent service and we will see you again soon!

    Tomahawk Steak dinner (serves 2)
    Tanya M.

    This historical gem of a place has eluded me since my childhood. It became a personal mission to go there at least once in the recent years. A coupon caught my eye, so it became a priority for going to dinner. We got the Tomahawk Steak. I didn't know what to expect. I was pleasantly surprised with presentation and servings size. Definitely can recommend this place for the food and Smoked Old Fashion. There was a nice selection of wines too. Live music played in the background. I loved the ambience and decor. It was like stepping back in time. Compliments to Roxanne for being the hostess and our server. We look forward to returning in the near future.

    Mushroom appetizer, pretty good.
    Jerry R.

    Giving this review is hard for me, this was the place my wife and I went on our first date, we have always loved it as one of our favorites. Here goes......We made reservations online for Valentine's Day. The surf and turf options here have always been a favorite, along with the live jazz music, and great cocktails. I'm not sure what the exact source of the problem on this busy night for restaurants was but it was a series of absolute failures. First, we waited in line for 30 minutes just to get to the hostess. People were really getting upset with the wait but we both understood the expectations of this holiday evening, especially at a place with a romantic vibe. We were seated, waiting 15 minutes for water. It was a Prix Frixe menu on the holiday evening. We were served a complimentary glass of champagne that came with the dinner. We ordered, and then we were given some bread and butter, the bread is always warm and fresh here. Almost an hour went by before our dinner arrived, they started serving free champagne because guests were starting to complain. I want to put it out there that we did not come late, our reservation was for 4:30 in the afternoon. Every table in the room was getting angry. People started getting their food finally, and within minutes, most tables sent to food back. Over/undercooked proteins was the biggest complaint. I got a bowl of clam chowder but noticed within a few minutes they were giving everyone small cups of chowder because they were running out. My soup was hardly even warm. Then came my ribeye and my wife's prime rib. I ordered my ribeye rare, she ordered a center cut prime rib. She got the end cut instead of the center cut, it was obliterated and well done. My ribeye was well done not rare as I ordered. I also ordered, as an extra, a lobster tail. My lobster tail was not edible. The lobster tail was chewy like beef jerky, dry, even crunchy in some places, I sent it back. We both ate our proteins because we felt so bad for the waitstaff, they were getting a tongue beating from almost every table. The manager asked me how our meal was while I was waiting on my wife in the ladies room, she probably wished she hadn't asked. I told the manager that my wife and I had been coming there since our first date there, about 8 years ago, maybe twice a year. I told her that I just spent $250 for one of the worst meals in a higher end restaurant of my life. She apologized. They over booked obviously, the kitchen staff failed on this night, and the poor servers had to put up with all the complaints. I would think better planning for one of the busiest nights of the year would be something the management may want to consider. I don't give bad reviews unless they are warranted, and it has to be pretty bad for me to do one like this one. We still love you Cafe La Maze, both of us are hoping for better in the future.

    French onion Soup, house salad and bread

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    23 days ago

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    30 days ago

    As always, Kim and Manny provide great drinks and food as always when we visit. The Old Fashions are to die for.

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    Rula R.

    Thank you @cafelamaze

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    2 months ago

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    1 month ago

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    2 months ago

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    4 months ago

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    4 months ago

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    Rula R.

    Thank you @cafelamaze

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    9 days ago

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    30 days ago

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    3 months ago

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    11 days ago

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    2 months ago

    Love the food and the live music... the perfect place to have a date night or just a fun night with friends. Plenty of parking in the back.

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    5 months ago

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    2 months ago

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    Rula R.

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    6 months ago

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    Rula R.

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    30 days ago

    We have been for several years and Kim and Manny are wonderful. Manny makes the best drinks

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    3 months ago

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    4 months ago

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    1 month ago

    Food was great and plentiful! Very nice owner. Place is a real hidden gem! Best prime rib sandwich I've ever had

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    1 year ago

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    Rula R.

    Thank you Cafe La Maze

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    9 months ago

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    Rula R.

    Thank you Ed @cafelamaze

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    2 months ago

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    Rula R.

    Thank you Alyssa

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    26 days ago

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    9 days ago

    Service was great. Manny Kim and Emily were friendly and the drinks were tasty. Good vibes and the R&B vibes were perfect.

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    9 days ago

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    5 months ago

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    2 months ago

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    Rula R.

    Thank you Jay

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    2 months ago

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    1 year ago

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    3 months ago

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    2 months ago

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    20 days ago

    Had the best time celebrating my birthday with' Many!! The saxophone player was amazing. So talented.

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    Rula R.

    Thank you Luz

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    1 year ago

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    1 year ago

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    Rula R.

    Thank you cafe La maze

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    1 year ago

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    Rula R.

    Thank you cafe la maze

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    11 months ago

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    Rula R.

    Thank you cafe La maze

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    5 months ago

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    1 year ago

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    Rula R.

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    4 months ago

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    Page 1 of 4

    Ask the Community - Cafe La Maze

    What time does live music start?

    Usually start at 6pm till 930-1030 pm

    What days and time is your live music?I would love to take my family out for dinner, but I don't want the loud music playing?

    Don’t See Your Question? Ask Away!

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    4.7
    (93 reviews)
    3.4 mi

    The best coffee in california! Hidden cafe but amazing!!!…read moreMust try it. All drinks are all good Service is good Vibes are good Everything is good

    Street parking only, very scarce. No obvious signage, look for writing in the window. They have a…read morering type camera door system. Wait outside on the sidewalk (no exterior seating) and someone will come to take you inside. Do not ring the door bell. The theme is to take it slow. Each customer typically waits 20-30 minutes to enter as part of how they do things, even if there is open seating inside. Not sure if they use a timer to space entries but it seems consistent. They take one group in at a time. Interior: A few tables around the wall and then bar seating. Would not recommend for parties greater than 2, there just isn't the space. They welcome service animals, babies/children and strollers from what I observed. The music was very, very loud. It was difficult to hold a conversation. I did not see a bathroom. Ordering process: After seating you wait for a little bit for them to bring small water cups and a QR menu with a table number and a set of rules. They do not have a physical menu, you must use your phone to order. Cell phone reception was dicey and took a long time to load. They have an interesting concept where you have a digital 'tab' open on their toast website. Unfortunately you must provide your full name, email and phone number. They have pour over drinks (note these can take 15-20 minutes), matcha, Hojicha and others. You may only order one drink per person at a time. They have a small snack menu with rotating foods. They use oat milk only. No substitutions allowed. After mobile ordering, drinks take 20-30 minutes as part of their take it slow vibe. Matcha $8 is from Paru tea and was very good. Hojicha $8 was too milky and didn't have a strong enough flavor. When you are done you walk to the register by the door and wait to be checked out. If they are making a drink you wait until they are finished. I wasn't really a fan. Staff were brusque. Music was too loud to converse.

    Photos
    Flowers on the table
    Flowers on the table
    Matcha and Hokkaido
    Matcha and Hokkaido
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    Cafe La Maze - steak - Updated July 2026

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