I love this Hillcrest gem! Great food! Great service! Fabioa is the best waiter in town!

64 degrees is absurd and inhospitable. There is no logical reason you should force your customers, servers and cooks to endure this temperature. We are here at 9pm and it's bone cold. The other couple have parkas and winter caps on. Your servers have on multiple coats. Let me be clear. The servers here are outstanding, kind and professional. The food has improved in consistency as well. Occasional specials like green chile items are a nice touch. But the deal breaker is the temperature. The place is often empty at night because of this. If you want customers you must TURN THE HEAT ON NOW. We witnessed two parties walk out because of the cold! This is your wake up call! We have been coming here 35 years, but if things don't change we will not be returning. * I will remove or update this review once you've remedied the problem. read more

Will update later. Hands down the best fucking breakfast we have had in San Diego. We ordered the Montecristo sandwich and Sam's Bundt baked buttermilk something . read more

THANK GOD this place is still going strong. A neighborhood OG. A gem. I've lived in Hillcrest since I was 17, I'm now 44. It's heartwarming to see small mom and pop places like this still in the 'hood. The tortilla soup is unbeatable, btw. read more

Pretty decent dinner food. hardly any vegan options (ho hum). Service was interesting. Weren't served for the first 20 minutes we were sitting down (large group of us) and then service picked up and drinks and food came out quickly. It wasn't overwhelming service but decent. I think our server was having a hard day. Haha. read more

Well me and Mama said on our Crest Cafe lunch a couple weeks ago that this will be our last time. I will miss the butter burgers when they used to be good!. Mama is friends with a trumpeez friend of the owner Ceclia. The friend told her a that Ceclia uses the restaurant profits for plastic surgery and fancy trips but doesn't like paying for proper heat and air conditioning for her customers. Mama said it's true after freezing her ta ta's off there in March! The bathroom plumbing and janitorial upkeep need some love too. The employees and former employees are rumored in saying that Ceclia treats people with arrogant disrespect. Might really be true because I have seen her get pretty icy once. Mama doesn't like cheapo's or two faced people. But the main problem for me is the food going downhill. I had the worst ever pastrami sandwich that I ever had. There was way to much rubbery pieces of the meat. A week later with Mama my butter burger tasted like a dirty grill and it was burnt around the edges. Mama had some kind of pasta dish that was so goopy she couldn't finish it. Mama's trumpeez friend is Facebook friends with Ceclia and says she needs to get over herself. So we are taking our wallets only to places where we respect the owners. read more

Crest Cafe - Easy to forget now. - Cafes Near Me - San Diego, California

This is my #1 breakfast spot in Hillcrest & that's saying a lot! The value here is just far more than you get from most breakfast places these days. The service is first class. Perfect little diner for the area & one of the few non-chain restaurants left in town. Fabiola was awesome & the rest of the staff is amazing too! I had the veggie omelet which comes with 2 sides & I added green chilis. - 5/5 yums! read more

The most amazing place. We order thru Grub Hub. The food always early., hot and DELICIOUS Unusual for delivery. And the plus is the finest ingredients and these folks can read no matter what you ask for. Always PERFECT number one eatery thru Grubhub read more

Great breakfast! My husband got one of the omelettes and inhaled it. I got the Cabo Quesadilla and it was way better than I expected (and a larger portion than expected). Been here twice and I've ordered it both times even though I told myself I'd try something different. We got the pancake sampler and surprisingly the power pancake was my fave. read more

Crest Cafe - Pancake Sampler - Cafes Near Me - San Diego, California

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Regular 'ol diner. The food is okay. The ambiance is classic diner style. The staff were friendly. The tables and restrooms were relatively clean. We were seated right away at 11am on a Saturday. I got the blueberry biscuit bundt french toast. The french toast itself was alright but the syrup, which was supposed to be blueberry, was not good. It genuinely tasted like straight molasses. If I got this dish again, I would definitely just use regular syrup. My friend got the raspberry ricotta french toast which was much better. The ricotta was not incorporated into the toast though. It was just on top of it. The raspberries were this way as well. I wouldn't go back to this place with so many other better options for breakfast/brunch in SD. read more

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The Christmas special of a ham plate was sub-par. Instead of a nice slice of ham the plate consisted of random chunks of fatty ham, along with a cheesy glop that were supposed to be scalloped potatoes and undercooked glazed carrots. Disappointed, I wound up eating what my sister was having. read more

The food here was absolutely delicious! The coffee was great! I had the hashbrown nest breakfast special and it was amazing! My husband had the breakfast tacos and said they were great! They have a great variety on the menu and the prices are very good for the portions. Also, the atmosphere is great, very warm and inviting. I'm a big Bob's Burgers fan, and I think this is how Bob's would feel if it were an actual place. Wonderful service! read more

Crest Cafe - Hashbrown Egg's Nest - Cafes Near Me - San Diego, California

We've been coming here for years, however this time was not what we expected nor were used to! The hash browns were dry and over cooked, the onion rings had tough and seemingly old onions, plus the batter was every place but on the onion! Then there was the pastrami jerky and served with very little sauerkraut read more

Pick up food is disappointing For $9 I received a tiny cup of creme brûlée that looked like four bites omashed potatoes. The ice cream was good but there were ice cubes in it.... Food is good but eat it in restaurant I guess read more

Crest Cafe - Deep Dish Apple Pie - Cafes Near Me - San Diego, California

Absolutely amazing! Had the crème brûlée fresh toast, pancakes and sausage. Best French toast I've ever had, everything was excellent! Great service, and staff, food came quick. read more

Crest Cafe - Creme Brulee French Toast, Pork Sausage, Buttermilk Pancakes - Cafes Near Me - San Diego, California

I can only speak for what I ordered but the blueberry Bundt French toast was super disappointing. There were no blueberries in the bread so it tasted like regular French toast (which is good but not what we ordered(. Also it said it came with blueberry syrup. It definitely did not. It was regular syrup with some tiny blueberries thrown in. The dish looks pretty but honestly there was zero blueberry flavor in it. Felt very much like a bait & switch and would not recommend that dish read more

Ordered food to celebrate my mom's 90th birthday. Everything was delicious and large portions.

I adore this place. Whether you're going for brunch or a late night dinner, it's always such a homie place with legit comfort food. The peppy service and welcome environment always make this my favorite food in town You guys are awesome! Thanks for being you! read more

Crest Cafe - Not Your Grandma 's Chicken Pot Pie Patty Melt Burger - Cafes Near Me - San Diego, California

Tasty food, service was admirable and it was a nice quiet place to enjoy a meal and the scenery. read more

Crest Cafe - Creme Brulee French Toast - Cafes Near Me - San Diego, California

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Crest Cafe 425 Robinson Ave, San Diego CA 92103 March 6, 2023 Monday - 9 AM for breakfast 1 Adult Atmosphere - 4 stars Food - 4 stars Service - 4 stars Background - On a business trip and needed breakfast. Of course I planned to hit up a Diner, Drive In, and Drives. Atmosphere - I will admit I did not see much of the place. You walk into a little space, which has small diner counter, so I sat there. The place has a word feel. While sipping my coffee I notice a strange odor. Someone probably likes it, it was a candle burning at the other end of the counter. Food Drink - Black coffee. Breakfast - I had to try what Guy had on Triple D. The Crème brûlée French toast. Sound French toast was good. But thebrûlée was just not strong enough. The fresh strawberries were the star. I do not think the berries were supposed to be the star. Service - It was what I needed as I was in an out. Now back to work. Someone got an hour plus on the parking meter. Future - Yes, I would love to try other items on the menu. read more

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Just had dinner at this cute diner. Alyssa was my waitress and what a smile. She lights up a room. Had the turkey meatloaf with mashed potatoes and gravy. It was delicious. I can't wait to go back. read more

Very good food, that's all I have to really say. The burgers were great, lots of flavor. Went to San Diego for the day, my brother picked this place. One negative thing is that there are lots of homeless guys hanging around that area, other than that all was good read more

3 stars... My wife was searching for a quaint brunch joint, and this place fit the bill! Ordered the chicken & waffles... crispy chicken tenders with a spicy sweet sauce. Cakey waffle and a side of syrup to round out the dish... sweet, spicy, crispy, salty...what more is there? Ambiance is family diner, service was a bit slow, and prices were in line with the area... this place is ok, but with so many brunch options in the area I cannot commit to an encore. This joint does not make the list... read more

Crest Cafe - Chicken & Waffles - Cafes Near Me - San Diego, California

Service needs to improve, we came in and sat there and memorized menu. Tried to get someone's attention. It was not crowded. There was really no one there and even the Cook looked bored. First rule of a breakfast place, take a drink order whether it's coffee or alcoholic beverage. read more

I've been coming to the Crest Cafe for over 30 years now and I must say, the food is always consistently delicious and quick service! , All your comfort food favorites including meatloaf with beef or turkey, fried chicken and waffles, homemade pastas, sandwiches, salads, burgers and more, all delicious! This place was featured on Diners Drive-Ins and dives a few years ago and is definitely worth going to when you're hungry! I hope to keep coming here for another 30 plus years :-) read more

The service was friendly and attentive. We had the meatloaf with scalloped potatoes and veggies. With the onion rings to start. The onion rings came in a huge ball and were amazingly good because the batter was light, and cooked perfectly. It was a little bit cold, but the meatloaf was perfect on a cold winter night. (We went a couple nights ago). read more

Went there for an early dinner, just because Bread & Cie was closed. My wife and I had never been here -- and we loved it. The pastrami sandwich was incredible (we didn't care for the fries). The chocolate shake delicious, and the brownie sundae was good. A super nice guy working there, but when I asked if he was the owner, said he doesn't even work there anymore (after 11 yrs there), was just filling in for someone. That's a shame, as he was great. We'll definitely be back. read more

The staff is super sweet and their veggie chili is one of my favorite eats in San Diego

I'm a little shocked at the rating. Chicago boy here that knows great food especially brunch items. I Can be a little hard to please sometimes with food quality I'll admit it but, The crabcake Benedict was the best I've ever had. I came back the next day. Looked cute inside. Server was darling. Very nice and quick. Tall guy with glasse Don't know his name. Deserves credit. Generally The food in hillcrest is better than elsewhere in the city. read more

Crest Cafe - Cafes Near Me - San Diego, California

We went for a celebration! We both had a burger and onion rings. The onion rings had the onion skins fried. My husband almost choked on it. I had 3 onion rings skins too. I was looking forward to breaded onions rings but it was very lightly coated. The burger was great! Wish the waitress/owner was a little friendlier but only to the regular people that come. We choose to drive 30 minutes away to the restaurant. Also, they said they would valet parking at another restaurant lot but only $1.50. Just to park an hour was $4.00. read more

First time visitor- had a wonderful Spinach salad with mango, jicama, walnuts and turkey. Service was excellent and we will definitely revisit! read more

Who doesn't love a week day breakfast date with friends to step away from the office and enjoy some good food. This spot has come up on my searches for awhile because it is only half a mile away. The menu was much larger than I was expecting so it was hard to make a decision because everything sounded great. On a Tuesday morning it was not busy so service was quick and easy. We ended up with the special that which was a version of a Benny but with scrambled eggs, sausage, cheese, and super creamy gravy with hash browns that were perfectly crispy. Then we went for a sweet option with the raspberry ricotta fresh toast which was the perfect bite. We were so full just from these two things but there were so many great things to pick from we were tempted to order more! Thanks for the incredible service and food! read more

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Amazing and delicious sandwich. The service is always great and efficient. I definitely recommend. read more

Crest Cafe - Chicken Club - Cafes Near Me - San Diego, California

Great little cafe with excellent staff. Would happily go back when I come back to town.

It is only my personal opinion and my personal experience, I want to thank FABIOLA. To begin with, the customer service is very good for that. First, my coffee was very hot, and then she helped me to remember my favorite dish, thanks to her I ate my omelet from salmon,, and it was all good,. Good service, hot coffee and very hot food, very good service. / Since I tried the food every time I have a chance or when I'm around for appointments with doctors in the area / I give myself my prize by going to eat something good and with good service thanks FABIOLA solo es mi opinion personal y mi experiencia personal ,, quiero agradecer a FABIOLA ., para empezar el servicio al cliente es muy buena para eso , primero mi cafe bien calientito despues me ayudo para acordarme de mi platillo favorito gracias a ella comi mi omelet de salmon ,, y fue todo bien ,. buen servicio , cafe caliente y la comida bien caliente muy buen servicio ,./ desde que probe la comida cada ves que tengo chance o que ando cerca por citas con doctores del area / me doy mi premio en ir a comer algo bueno y con buen servicio gracias FABIOLA read more

Crest Cafe - GRACIAS RUBEN MEDINA MUY BUENA COMIDA Y CALIENTITA - Cafes Near Me - San Diego, California

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Food is good. I would come here again. Restaurants has been here for many years. Always busy.

Stopped for lunch on a Friday. After finding a place to park (not the easiest), we arrived at the diner and there were plenty of tables available. Fun 80's music was playing quietly, which made the ambiance upbeat, but we could still converse easily. Wow, the menu! So many great choices! I love how so many items are created from scratch in house. Home ground beef burgers, sandwiches made with homemade roast beef, multiple types of meatloafs, pot pies, homemade chorizo, chips, fresh cut fries...and I know I'm forgetting some! So the worse part is choosing what to order. I wanted multiple items from the menu. Service was excellent! Our server was attentive, helpful, and very fun. Had the "Neat" Sloppy Joe on the lunch special and it was delicious! I would highly recommend! read more

Very intuitive and friendly staff. Ordered fish and chips was, generous portions with plenty of food.

Worst customer service , ever experienced. Seed in water, water coke, and rude attitude.

Worst meal I've had in years. Ordered a chicken club, hold the cheese. The bread was wet and greasy, obviously fried instead of toasted. The "chicken" was one round clump that looked like a hockey puck, just as wet & greasy as the bread. It didn't come with mayo. What the heck ? . There is a reason the place was empty, and it was lunch hour. Fries were raw & mushy. Had to brush crumbs off my chair to sit down. Waiter couldn't walk up to the table; just mostly yelled at us from over the bar. For $17 I expect a little mayo and a clean place to sit. Looked like it hadn't seen a makeover inside since 1990. Goodbye Felicia !!!! read more