Wow! I am so surprised this isn't rated higher. What an absolute gem! We can here for coffee and breakfast after a long week, and not was I happy the second I sat down. This is very much counter style dining. You come up, order your food and drink, get a number and choose a seat. They have some inside but it's mostly outside tables. We snagged an outside one right by the glass with an amazing view!! I ordered the prime smoked salmon presentation and a dirty chai. And my fiancee ordered the curried chicken salad sandwich with potato salad and a coke. Our bill was about 50 dollars which was pricey, so just be aware of that! Let's go over the food so you can get a feel of it all! Prime smoked salmon presentation: the best salmon bagel I have ever had in my entire life. The salmon had an amazing smokey flavor and the onion had the lightest pickle I ate like every single one. I also appreciate the amount of cream cheese they gave me. Curried chicken salad sandwich: so good! Fresh and had an amazing flavor, I don't always like chicken salad because it's so dry but this was pretty good. Potato salad: a red potato salad with no egg, so it was good but had too much garlic for me. Overall if you want a gorgeous view and some good light food, this is for you. I absolutely loved it and will be back. read more

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Delicious food, gorgeous location. The wait was long, but food was worth it. Service was interesting - we had sat at one of the barstool tables and were fine there, the lady (I don't think was a server, but idk if she was a manager or something?) insisted we move to another table (we have smallish kids and she said it would be easier to sit at a regular table). Her demeanor was very gruff and in order to give us shade from an umbrella she moved it away from another table and ignored the guy who was sitting there. Food made it worth it ‍ read more

Beautiful oceanfront café with amazing views! Fresh food, friendly service, and a relaxing atmosphere. One of my favorite breakfast spots in La Jolla. Please check out my video here: https://www.tiktok.com/t/ZP8sKn8eq/ read more

Caroline's Seaside Cafe by Giuseppe - Cafes Near Me - La Jolla, California

We came in during our trip down to SD for the day before my niece went back to school. The view was amazing and the weather was perfect we sat outside and we enjoyed the view of the waves. Breakfast is good, it's your typical breakfast nothing special. The service was great . Overall we enjoyed our experience here at Caroline's Seaside Cafe... read more

Caroline's Seaside Cafe by Giuseppe - Front of business - Cafes Near Me - La Jolla, California

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This was the perfect spot for a last minute trip to San Diego! You order your food and the owner does a great job of finding you the best table option for your party. The staff was attentive and kind. The views are picturesque and just what we needed for a little escape. They do need to upgrade the restroom. One RR for both men and women. With a restaurant this size, you need at least one more stall. read more

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MUST VISIT! My friend and I visited on a sunny Friday for brunch. There was a short wait to order (15 min, but reasonable for the popularity and view), and the food arrived within 30 min. They had assigned our seating prior to placing our order. The Southwestern scramble ($18) was very average with an appropriate amount of food and the eggs and potatoes were well seasoned. However, the STAR of the show was the white albacore tuna melt ($18). Stuffed with tuna, layered with caramelized onions, crispy sourdough, and paired with a creamy potato salad - I was BLOWN away. I think about this sandwich frequently. Pricing is fantastic for a PRIME San Diego beach view and good food. read more

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What an amazing spot! The view of La Jolla Shores, the cove, and the pier are breathtaking. Surfers, kayakers, Beach walkers. And the food was so good. I had the American scramble and it was more than I could eat. Fresh eggs, fried potatoes, and full flavor sour dough toast. The staff was helpful and very nice too. You order before taking a seat. Great beach atmosphere. read more

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Took a road trip to San Diego and decided to try this place because the menu looked good and the scenery looked amazing. The view of the beach was honestly the best part. It was gorgeous and definitely made the experience better. The food itself was okay, but a bit overpriced in my opinion. I got the grilled chicken sandwich and it wasn't bad, just not the best chicken sandwich I've had. The fries honestly seemed like they came out of a frozen bag, and they were served on this tiny fry plate which felt kind of weird for a nicer restaurant. My partner got the 2 eggs any style with bacon and potatoes, and hers was actually really good. Simple but delicious. I honestly should've ordered something from the breakfast menu instead. The parking situation was also kind of a mess. The parking app wasn't working so we couldn't pay at first, but thankfully the EV parking worked for us. Overall, it was a nice place to try at least once for the view and atmosphere, but I probably wouldn't come back. read more

Caroline's Seaside Cafe by Giuseppe - Cafes Near Me - La Jolla, California

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Such a great place for brunch with an awesome ocean view. Parking is difficult since it's restricted to the streets. Ordering has to be done first before grabbing a seat. Go early because there is always a long line. There is plenty of seating, both indoor and outdoor. Servers are friendly and attentive. They were really quick in cleaning the tables for the next guests. Our food was delicious with generous portions. I really enjoyed my smoked salmon on an Everything Bagel. Will definitely come back! read more

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ATTN: Show UCSD ID for 30% off! (They don't actively advertise this so just remember to let them know/show it when you order) Came here with a friend for brunch/lunch on a weekday. My roommate told me about this place and mentioned the great views of the ocean. There were only a few people in line in front of us when we arrived and the cashier was quick. I ordered the tuna melt with fries and my friend opted for the chilaquiles. Tuna melt was delicious (a little too oily but the flavor was definitely there); fries were average. My friend liked her chilaquiles; she said it was better than average but not the best she's ever had. It took some time for the food to come out but understandable given how busy they were. The views were incredible and made the time go by way more quickly. The outside seating area is a great place to sit. Items can be pricey but the discount makes it worth it! Parking isn't great and restricted to the street which was pretty challenging even on a weekday so come earlier if possible to account for the extra time. I really enjoyed my experience, and I can see myself bringing guests. read more

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03/18/2026 Great spot for breakfast or lunch with a beautiful view of La Jolla Shores! We shared the smoked salmon ($18), which was generous with the cream cheese, capers, and fresh veggies. The side of fruit was very sweet and refreshing. We also loved the sides: the Applewood Smoked Bacon was "smoking" good and the potatoes were piping hot. Our only minor letdown was the hot cocoa; it could have been warmer. read more

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Caroline's was amazing! The food was great, and you can't beat the view on the patio. The avocado toast was so good, one of the best avocado toasts I've had. You order at the counter and they bring your food out to you, it can get very busy, but there always seemed to be a steady flow of people In and out for seating. The staff was great, super fast clearing tables. When we found a spot it a was in the sun, and a bit of a warmer day, someone on the staff even tried to get us in the shade! There was a lot near the building where you pay to park, though I think it may be off limits during the week. There was also street parking if you don't mind walking a bit. Overall we had a great experience! It definitely gets busy. We went on a Saturday around 9, but by the time we left the line was triple what it was when we got there. I recommend going early. read more

Caroline's Seaside Cafe by Giuseppe - Avocado toast (doesn't look like much, but it was delicious) - Cafes Near Me - La Jolla, California

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*If you get here early you can get a nice seat inside or outside with a window view of the ocean! But you will see the ocean regardless where ever you sit which is nice.* Food - 10/10 Food was great, no complaints! All of our dishes came hot and fresh. We shared a Turkey Apple Sausage Scramble and banana pancakes. Very typical breakfast items are offered here but they are made well and tasted great! We also ordered a hot chai & hot mocha and those were so delicious as well. This cafe is really lovely and quaint. It's not a large breakfast spot but it has a good amount of tables outside and maybe a handful inside. I would definitely come back again! read more

Caroline's Seaside Cafe by Giuseppe - TURKEY APPLE SAUSAGE SCRAMBLE and BANANA PANCAKES - Cafes Near Me - La Jolla, California

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Amazing café with a breathtaking ocean view! The atmosphere is absolutely perfect -- enjoying a coffee while watching the waves was such a great experience. The food was delicious, everything tasted fresh and was beautifully served. The staff was also very friendly and attentive. Definitely a place I would love to visit again! read more

Caroline's Seaside Cafe by Giuseppe - Cafes Near Me - La Jolla, California

The day we went it wasn't crowded and the food came out really fast. It's your standard American breakfast food done right. The weather was amazing and it's such a vibe dining next to the ocean. I do think it might feel kind of hectic when it's busy tho. You order before you get seated and get to pick your own seat so that is nice but def a disorganized factor to it when busy. Overall would come back esp for the view and food was good too. read more

Caroline's Seaside Cafe by Giuseppe - Cafes Near Me - La Jolla, California

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The highlight of this restaurant is the view- An amazing view of the pacific ocean and the Scripps pier. The food is good and a lot of selection. The minus is limited/no parking. So street parking and walking to the restaurant unless you have the required UCSD parking. Avoid Thursday am W Street cleaning. read more

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Caroline's seaside Cafe is in La Jolla Shores and is a popular spot for breakfast/brunch. Parking in the lot next door for a fee and/or free street parking if you're lucky. After parking on the lot, my pup and I walked down the steps to La Jolla Shores beach to explore and find seashells on the sand and maybe gilet the waves get our feet wet...but Fendi didn't care for the cold water. The little beach activity got our appetite so off to Caroline's up the steps, with direct beach access. You order, pay, take a number and the food will be brought out by servers. It was a late breakfast/brunch menu, we ordered the smoked salmon plate, a smoked salmon cream cheese bagel and side of bacon Fendi and my friend. Everything looked and tast needed improvement; specifically the smoked salmon...wished it had more of a smoky cured and presence of dill herb to make it taste superb and this did not. We sat at a corner table with unobstructed views of the beach and a little lawn park next to it. Beachy marine layers hanging over, would have been better had the sunshine peeked with its rays. Service by staffer were efficient and helpful, it's a good thing I speak fluent Spanish, it always helps get their attention for service. There's indoor seating but the interior was nothing special in terms of decor. Seating did have floor to ceiling windows with views of the beach. I suggest you sit outdoors to enjoy what this place is all about 'seaside dining,' A casual setting. Super crowded on weekends and lots of kids. Having direct actress to the beach was an added bonus but the unobstructed beachside views is what it's all about. Recommend read more

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Rude service... For the past year plus, I have gone to the beach every warm Sunday with my family. Most Sundays that I'm there, I'll mobile order coffee drinks, sometimes also a sandwich or pastry from Caroline's and take it back to the beach. I occasionally stand in the long line to order. I have found the food and drinks to be good. Last week, the owner came out of the restaurant to yell at me in the bathroom line and accuse me of not being a customer (bathrooms are for customers only). She accused me of this because I walked up from the back of the restaurant. It was so offensive. It embarrassed me and I was also surprised the owner didn't recognize my face as a semi regular customer. Don't worry Caroline's, I will not use your restroom nor buy your food again. read more

Brought the whole family here for brunch while in town for work. I will say the wait as very long and we had to stand in line for about an hour but that's because it's very popular. They do a good job of getting everyone in and out. The menu is pretty basic but everything on there is absolutely delicious. They have outdoor and indoor seating and with it being a little chilly we sat inside and it was perfect because there big glass windows let you still enjoy the view. Servers were nice and efficient. Will definitely come back! read more

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Good morning, This morning I had an extremely unpleasant experience at your café. A friend and I were seated at a table and left our bags, phones, and jackets there only while we went to collect the coffees we had already ordered at the counter. It was a weekday, early in the morning, the café was nearly empty, there were plenty of available tables, and there was no line. Within moments, one of your employees removed all of our belongings from the table without our permission and without even looking around to see whether we were still nearby. We were only a few steps away and tried to let him know the items were ours, but everything happened so quickly that we had no opportunity to stop him. As soon as our belongings were removed, a couple who had been sitting at the table next to ours immediately took our seats. When I asked what had happened, the employee responded rudely, saying that "it wasn't safe to leave our belongings on the table." That explanation simply doesn't make sense. If I had gone to the restroom for a minute, would that also justify removing my personal belongings and giving my table to someone else? Furthermore, if it truly isn't safe to leave personal belongings at a table for a brief moment, that raises serious concerns about the safety of your establishment for your customers. I fully understand that your café does not reserve tables, but that is not what happened here. We had not abandoned the table; we had stepped away for less than a minute simply to collect the coffees we had already ordered. What upset us the most was the complete lack of respect, both in the way our personal belongings were handled without our consent and in the rude manner in which we were treated when we asked for an explanation. To make matters worse, the couple who took our table remained there, leaving us without a place to sit despite having occupied the table first. Both my friend and I left extremely disappointed. It was her first visit to your café, and after this experience she said she has no intention of returning. What should have been a pleasant morning turned into an extremely frustrating and disappointing experience. I sincerely hope this incident will be reviewed so that no other customer has to go through the same situation. read more

This cafe had helpful and kind workers. The food portions were good and it was tasty. The potatoes were a bit dry. Hot chocolate was delicious ! We loved the ocean view the only downside was a tad longer wait time. Our food took about half an hour to be brought out. Tables are first come first serve and you can only sit down once you have your order number. Overall I would rate 8/10 for food, service, and scenery! read more

Caroline's Seaside Cafe by Giuseppe - Pancake order and all-American egg scramble - Cafes Near Me - La Jolla, California

This is the place for you if you aren't in a hurry and are ready to truly enjoy being a relaxed San Diegan! Incredible 180 degree views of the La Jolla shore and the Helen Browning Pier. Delicious latte's and cappuccino's. We also enjoyed the short rib hash scramble and the croissant breakfast sandwich, both were good. We were loving our time and experience at Caroline's so much we also added a yummy apple tart with another latte. Service was friendly and kind! We look forward to dining at Caroline's again very soon! Also, enjoy the walking paths around the campus or a stroll on the sand. read more

We love playing casual volleyball games at La Jolla Shores Beach, and I looked up nearby food spots, perfect find! This place is great. Just a heads-up: there's usually a long line if you're dining in. But if you're ordering to-go, the line is much shorter, which worked better for us since we wanted to head back, relax, and enjoy the beach with friends and family. Honestly, the food is worth trying! We loved the tuna sandwich and the beef short ribs hash with eggs. Just note: you can't get the mimosas for takeout. I didn't get a chance to take photos of everyone because we were so hungry, but it was definitely worth it. I especially loved the tuna sandwich with the side, just not the salad, haha! I like salad, just not after a game. The front desk staff (I forgot her name) was super friendly and let us know we didn't need to line up with dine-in customers. There are two lines: one for dine-in and another for takeout/delivery. The takeout line is definitely the way to go. read more

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Yummy food with a nice view, you even get 30% off if your a UCSD student Tuna melt was delicious, the cheese, onion, tuna, toasted bread in one bite was delish! The salmon salad was alright, salmon was cooked perfectly but the salad felt like it was missing something. Be prepared to wait in line. You order at the front, find your own seating. there are ppl cleaning around so tables are clean. Would come again! read more

Caroline's Seaside Cafe by Giuseppe - seating - Cafes Near Me - La Jolla, California

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My family and I visited this restaurant for my in-laws' anniversary. It was one of the best experiences. The food was good and the views of the ocean in the morning were great. I really liked the service team - attentive and was very helpful when there was a small mistake. We would come again when in town. read more

3.5 rounded to 3. The food is alright and on the pricier side. It is simple breakfast food but they do it well. The view is nice and employees are very nice. The wait can get kind of long on weekends. The turkey apple scramble was pretty good. If I were to come again, I would get that. While I do love a lox bagel (smoked salmon presentation), I thought it tasted mediocre and was overpriced. There isn't really anything special about this place but the view is definitely nice. read more

Caroline's Seaside Cafe by Giuseppe - Turkey Apple Sausage Scramble - Cafes Near Me - La Jolla, California

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Amazing and beautiful views all around! I finally had the opportunity to stop by and try the cafe. The sitting rules must be followed or they will tell you to move or stand while waiting for your order if you are not dinning in. I could see why people have a confusion with the seating. Besides that food was great. The coffee was also very tasty. I will probably get this name wrong but "Afrada", nice lady work in the front came along our table to see how our meal was. She noticed our pancakes were burnt and brought it up to our attention. She immediately asked if we wanted them replaced as we should not be eating pancakes like that and apologized. Pancakes were indeed replaced. People like her are the reason one comes back to places like this! Thank you. read more

Caroline's Seaside Cafe by Giuseppe - Cafes Near Me - La Jolla, California

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The views are amazing. Great brunch spot. They have your typically American breakfast options. I ordered the pancakes with eggs and bacon and my boyfriend ordered the American egg scramble with potatoes. My order was really nothing special to any other pancakes but it was good brunch, I enjoyed it. Can't really go wrong with pancakes. I think the layer of powdered sugar on the pancakes added a nice sweet touch to it. My boyfriend really enjoyed his egg scramble. He's usually not a potato person but he really enjoyed the potatoes and said they were actually seasoned. The egg scramble also comes with toast with butter and jam. You order at the register then you pick an open seat. There was a line to order but it was a long wait. People are going in and out frequently so you can find a seat pretty easily at least at around 9:00am-10am on a Sunday. We paid for parking via the ParkMobile app. Little pricey for parking but you could also walk on the beach after to make it worth it. read more

Caroline's Seaside Cafe by Giuseppe - Cafes Near Me - La Jolla, California

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First off parking is a hassle - so prepare to drop people off and cross your fingers to find some street parking nearby. With that in mind, the place is an amazing find. Great beach views from the terrace\deck. The food is standard breakfast fare but all is freshly prepared. We tried an egg scramble with bacon (good), blueberry pancakes (huge and filling) and side of bacon and fried eggs (yum). The espresso drinks (got a flat white) were good quality as well. Service is order at the counter, take a number and find a seat. If in the area, and you can find parking then this isn't a bad chicken oh they also have a lunch menu as they are open till 3pm. read more

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Food is pretty good! Standard brunch place. It's by the beach so having the tortilla soup helps warm up your body from the ocean breeze. It lowkey taste like the tortilla soup from chilis which I love lol Short rib hash is also flavorful and what I've ordered the past two times My cousin got the tuna melt which I didn't try but she said it's good and finished all of it! The French fries are perfectly crispy. I love the indoor and outdoor seating options. You can't beat the ocean view. After brunch we walked by the beach. On weekends the parking lot is free for a certain amount of hours. I wish the weekday menu was all the time Service is fair. The waitress was nice. the line was really long I think we waited 30 min in line, ordered & then waited 30 minutes for our food. They tell you to pick a table and that you can't move/choose another table after that. read more

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8.5/10. Food and atmosphere are great. 30% off an entree per UCSD student ID. Ordered the soufflé pancakes, tuna melt sandwich, and yogurt parfait. Soufflé pancakes were fluffy and delicious as always, its my favorite place to go for pancakes in SD. This was my first time getting the tuna melt ($19), its was fairly large but I just wish they gave a little bit more tuna because it is a lot of bread. Bread was perfectly toasted, but I probably just get the beef roast which is what I normally get. Fries are very generic, nothing special. Parfait ($11) was full of fresh fruit. Would recommend, just be careful, only 1 restroom for everyone. read more

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Caroline's has an interesting set up. You MUST order your food first and be given an order number before you can sit at a table. If you try getting a table first before ordering or even while someone else is in line ordering for you, they will kindly remind you that you can't until food is ordered and you have your order number. . While that was a little strange, Caroline's didn't disappoint. The view was gorgeous and the food was just as tasty. We ordered the ceasar salad and tuna melt ...both were delicious. The food did take about 30 minutes to come out which seemed a bit long for what we ordered but having a nice view helped pass the time. Also, be prepared to walk. We went on a Sunday around 12:30 and the nearest available parking spot was 3/4 a mile away. Overall glad we checked it off our list. read more

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Beautiful area to get brunch! Definitely a place to take your visitors and have them experience the nice San Diego view! The wait was pretty long just to order, and as a rule, you need to order first before you can claim a seat, but seats empty up pretty fast and the workers there help with finding seats for your party. The food was alright, nothing too special. We ordered what I think was the beef short rib hash - the portion was pretty huge! I almost ordered another dish to share, but one was more than enough and I ordered pancakes instead as a sweet. The pancakes were fluffy and fresh just how they should be! read more

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Only 3 stars because one of the staff members, maybe the manager, was really really rude about me getting a high chair ready for my baby when there were literally 4 empty tables next to me. Yes, yes, I know there are a bunch of signs that say to order first, but I made sure there were plenty of options for the people who were ready, husband was next in line, there wasn't a huge crowd, and the approach just could've been nicer. Food was really good! Views and ambience were beautiful. Parking is soooooooo expensive. Try to find street parking. read more

honestly not sure why caroline's has such a low rating, it's a beautiful beachside cafe! yes, you should be prepared to wait in line before you get to order/be seated, but what a view! also, ucsd students get 30% off which is a huge bonus. food is good too, and portion sizes are big. i ordered the vegetable egg scramble and thought it was done well. i especially loved the breakfast potatoes and would order it again just for the herby crunchiness parking is limited in the lot, but no permit needed on weekends/holidays! and it is right next to the beach, so to be expected on a nice day... overall, a solid option for food before a beach day read more

Caroline's Seaside Cafe by Giuseppe - menu - Cafes Near Me - La Jolla, California

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A nice small place to eat by the beach upstairs, but experience was a bit frustrating. Had a hard time finding parking and finding seats. There is a nice lady who help cleans and make sure all tables were cleaned but there was a limited amount of seating and no one to help guide! I think seating based on first come first serve would be nice. You can't sit down until you order food first and have a number and I was fine with that. But the issue was there was people who already sit down before they even order! And no one to watch. Which is why it should be changed to traditional restaurant seating rule! The blueberry pancakes was delicious and the beef short rib hash was quite tasty, however my burger could have been made better. My patty was more rare than I expected and the bun was really dry. They can definitely improve on that. read more

Caroline's Seaside Cafe by Giuseppe - Burger, blueberry pancakes, beef hash - Cafes Near Me - La Jolla, California

I came here yesterday for the first time and although the food was good and the front staff were nice, I don't think I'll be back. Logistically this place makes no sense. It is part of the campus, and there is absolutely NO parking that isn't labeled permit only, so I had to park a mile away and walk over, ( I also tried to call and ask about parking and no one answered the phone) When you get there, you have to order at the counter which took at least 15 -20 minutes in line, then you have to come back to get your own drinks from the counter after you've gotten your table, and because I was alone, other people who were ordering were stalking my table when I got up, then the food took around 41 minutes ... yes 41. Also the chocolate chip pancakes are just a pile of chocolate chips sitting on top which melted into a glob after a few minutes. I have never seen them not be mixed into the batter..... After the food arrived, the guy who delivered it asked if I needed anything else and then I asked for some water and was directed to a community water station where there were no cups. I asked the lady who was clearing tables if she could put some cups out since there was a tray where they clearly should have been, and she directed me to go inside AGAIN to get a cup. This would be the 3rd time I had to get up from my table. I told her I did not want to leave my dog alone at the table to go inside again and there should still be cups for other people anyway, she then told me she would get me water when she was done with what she was doing. Although this is a dog friendly place, no water was offered for my dog and since I could barely get a cup for myself, I was not able to get anything to put water in for my dog. There is also only 1 shared bathroom, which had a very wet floor assuming the surfers caused. I didn't love that. Overall the food and view was nice, but the lack of space, long wait, no parking and "do everything yourself" makes me not want to come back. This is not the experience I want when I go out to eat. Food: 8, logistics: 2 read more

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Some of the best ocean views you can get in San Diego. I've been awhile ago and didn't realize how popular this place has become. My husband and I came on a Tuesday morning and there was a line out the door. The line took about 20 minutes to get through. The parking can also be an issue as the parking lot that is next to the restaurant is only for weekend parking. The food is fresh and healthy which I enjoyed. read more

Caroline's Seaside Cafe by Giuseppe - Cafes Near Me - La Jolla, California

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Good food, good views, good service! We came here for brunch after a hike on a Tuesday. This little cafe is located near La Jolla Shores and offers amazing beach-front patio seating. There was no line at ordering and plenty of seats outside. I ordered the the protein packed power breakfast, which was light but extra filling. The fruit was super good too! My friends ordered the mediterranean scramble and the all american scramble. They raved the most about the house potatoes. The food came pretty quickly and by the end of the meal we were all stuffed with exceptional breakfast. Parking can be a bit harder if you do not have a UCSD parking permit and want to park right up front. There's a lot where you pay and also street parking. Personally, I have never had trouble finding street parking in this part of town when I come to La Jolla Shores. read more

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They seem a bit unnecessarily strict with their ordering and seating system. Especially considering it's gloomy Monday morning and their is no line and plenty of open tables. They have a cafe order set up, but you can not sit unless you order food from their seating* menu. Also i only ordered a coffee and it stilk took 20mins to come out.. Honestly this place put a bad taste in my mouth. Not sure I'd be a returning customer. Pinpoint is a super cute cafe up the street with better view that id prefer to visit. read more

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