Generally a big fan of this place. It's solid. Decent food. Usually decent service. Great late-night hours. I've been a fairly steady customer since I was a little kid because my grandfather's office for 30 years was just down the alley. Apparently, and I discovered this last night, they have a Night Owl menu from 10-midnight... smaller (decently) sized portions for like $7.25 or something. Last night I had the BTCA (bacon, tomato, cheese, avocado) half sandwich with soup (chicken tortilla) and salad. My friend had the angus slider with the same accoutrements. Food was decent. Sandwich was pretty greasy with all the bacon and cheese... Service (Thomas), was horrible!! What gives, dude?! I greeted YOU when you approached our table. I offered our drink order without you asking us. You finally dazedly took our order after we each repeated ourselves numerous times. And when you finally brought us our food, you brought us dry salads. "Oh," I inquired "can we have salad dressing?!" So then you decided to tell us our options and brought me a dressing other than the type I asked for. But I was so far over you I didn't say anything. I'll continue to frequent this place, because i'm generally satisfied here. But Thomas, man, not sure if it was an off night, or if you got some personal business clouding your service... but another encounter like this and I won't be back to the Crest Cafe. Oh, they have a comment card they give with the check... but i'll be damned if i'm going to submit that to the horrible server who horribly (under) served me. They should include an email address for comments, I think! read more

Friday night the roommates and I were looking for some comfort food and first went to Brians. Place was packed. My roommate Cindy suggested we hit up Crest Cafe. I had never been and was willing to give it a shot. I am so glad that we did. I was craving mashed potatoes and gravy, the meal was an after thought. Our waiter was very cool and suggested some specials which included an open faced turkey sandwich with mashed potatoes and gravy. I was sold, but right before I ordered my roommate Matt asked if he could get mashed potatoes and gravy with the French Dip, they said yes and my order changed immediately. The French Dip was simply average, which is good enough in my book, the Au Jus was awesome and the mashed potatoes were smothered in delicious, decadent gravy. It was like soft, molten, deliciousness and I savored every bite. If you are seeking comfort food, you can do worse then giving Crest Cafe a try. Good food. read more

What an interesting menu, I love to eat at places that have new foods to try...We ordered the mango and bre quesadilla, it was pretty good...I think a little bacon or balsamic would give it that little extra something that it needs but was otherwise very good. Hubby had the Cowboy hotdog ( I think thats the name of it) Soooo good!!! I really would like to go back and try those pulled pork Fries...The service was nice... read more

Came here on a Tuesday late afternoon, place was fairly empty. Seated quickly and ordered. I ordered the special, Jalapeno Chicken Pasta and wife ordered some chicken sandwich (cant remember the name). On the menu for her dish, it said it had green peppers and she asked for those to not be put on the sandwich (we both HATE green peppers). My dish didn't give ingredients so didn't think to ask. Sure enough, my dish shows up covered in green peppers and so does hers. So waiter sends them back to have them removed. They come back, sans peppers (which at this point doesnt matter as green peppers over powers anything else put in a dish) and about 3 bites into my Jalapeno CHICKEN Pasta, there is no chicken. So I send the dish back and tell the waiter I just want something else, so I order the patty melt. It comes and it and the fries are just covered in grease. We could see the cooks and they just looked completely lost and clueless. Whoever those clowns were, you can thank them for this review and customers that won't be coming back. Service was good, though they were a bit confused as we had 2 guys it seemed waiting on our table, so we had extra bread brought that we didn't want, and an extra beer that I didn't order. read more

I didn't have a good experience here but I'm giving this place a second star because their breakfast looks tasty. I ordered the butter burger and it came out completely burnt, I asked for another burger and that one came out less burnt than the first one. The burger didn't taste like anything but burnt char. read more

Crest Cafe - My second burnt burger after I sent the really burnt burger back. I understand there are grill marks but the whole burger tasted burnt. - Cafes Near Me - San Diego, California

Crest Cafe, Hillcrest 7:15AM on a saturday morning (1st time visiting this place!) Bottom line up front: It's a groovy little place, and the chow is great. Definitely keeping it in my hip-pocket as a good breakfast joint, and I will definitely return! Got there early so we got seated right away. People were coming and going but it wasn't at all crowded. Great breakfast menu, lots of egg dishes, pancakes, and "big breakfast" stuff. Lot's of healthier options too so it's not all just hashbrowns and bacon. There was also some really interesting and yummy sounding stuff too, like Lemon Ricotta Pancakes and Breakfast Enchiladas. My Old Lady said the eggs benedict were totally baller. In other words, definitely meets the expectations for a good diner! One negative, even with the place being somewhat empty, it was loud and echo-ey! There ain't much in there to absorb the sound it seems. Just be prepared I guess, i was talking across the table to my wife and felt like I was shouting over some of the background noise. read more

A great little neighborhood place hidden on a little side street with very unique menu items... and not spoiled by being featured on Diners, Drive-Ins & Dives. It's definitely a "locals" spot because you wouldn't just stumble on to this gem ordinarily. BBQ Cheddar Bacon Burger with cheese and chopped bacon INSIDE the hand-formed patty as well as on top along with excellent house-made onion rings, was delicious and perfectly cooked medium-rare. Our server was excellent as well. We'll definitely return when in town again. read more

Visited this hidden gem for a late Sunday brunch earlier this week. This place deserves a sixth star seriously, there was no wait, our drinks were refilled throughout the entire meal, and I haven't even gotten to the details about the food. Fresh bacon, eggs cooked just how I asked, and the toast still had melting butter on top. My boyfriend got the chicken and waffles which was just as fresh and satisfying I even stole a few bites. We were 100% satisfied with the quality of food and excellent customer service. Thank you Crest Cafe, for a fantastic brunch. read more

Place was taking precautions for Covid. Lots of space between people seated. Wait staff was friendly. I had the butter burger. It was good. Sloppy but tasty. The fries were unseasoned cardboard. Don't recommend them at all. read more

The food is good. There are a lot of choices on the menu. Service is pretty quick. Place seems clean. However - they have a no talking on your cell phone policy which I don't particularly like. My friend happened to get a FaceTime call from a friend in Japan and the manager - I assume - a woman with shoulder length brown highlighted hair -- scolded him and told him he needed to end his call. I don't see how the call was any different than talking to someone across the table. The place is already bustling and we weren't being disruptive. read more

Crest Cafe - Too many choices - Cafes Near Me - San Diego, California

I absolutely Love this place. Ive had a number of things on their menu and they have all been delicious. But lately ive been addicted to their Bacon Pancakes with 2 eggs over easy on top (you can order the eggs any way you like, i just like them that way). The pancakes have huge bacon pieces and crisp to perfection. Then you add the warm syrup and your in heaven! read more

Crest Cafe - My Favorite at Crest Cafe, Bacon Pancakes - Cafes Near Me - San Diego, California

They would get all 5 stars if they had more vegetarian dinner options. I love there breakfasts SO MUCH though I will continue to go back again and again. The menu is very flexible in how they will adjust your order for you. I find their fruit sides are big and made with the best quality fruits. Lots of berries and not too much melon, like some restaurants use to fill a plate. Eat! Then be happy! read more

I've never had anything here that I didn't LOVE. Service is great, menu is awesome, prices are good. Can be super busy on the weekends and the dining room is not that large so you could literally be within inches of the table next to you. Ok, I've been caught practically drooling over my neighbors plates to the point that given a fork I might have gotten really inappropriate. But when a place has Creme Brulee French Toast, what can you expect!?! TWO OF MY FAVORITE things got together in my wildest food porn fantasy and actually had a delicious warm melty baby that I will enjoy EVERY TIME I go there no matter what time of day! I'm only human, people, if you don't know what I'm talking about you've never been there, so go! You've got to try this! read more

Surprisingly decent for "Diner Food"! We came here for breakfast... I had "The Hangover" and he had the "Salmon Scramble"..... We both cleared our plates! Def. not gourmet by any means... But also not greasy/sketchy like Denny's or Rudfords. I even wish we would've came here instead of that Chinese place last week when we were trying to find a place open late on a Sunday.... Making a big "note to self" on that one..... Our server was also very friendly without being annoying. Like. read more

You have improved!! Yum! POOR QUALITY FOOD Thanks for your reply Kent. I hear you stopped charging a $1.00 for a slice of lemon. that's a start....higher quality food is my suggestion. read more

One of my favorite spots overall. There are times when the bisque isn't as hot or the bread not as toasty, and I may wait for a while when they are changing shifts, but that's the way the cookie crumbles, folks. I wanna give it 4.5, but I can only give it four OR five... Five it is, since I've never gotten anything genuinely bad out of the kitchen or any service that I would consider truly inattentive.. consistency is based on which aspect is more important to you I spose, but they are definitely holding at 90% in my book, not 80 or 100. read more

I went to Crest Cafe for the first time this morning. I was driving around Hillcrest looking for a place to work over breakfast and was drawn in by their cozy feel and cool metal chairs on the sidewalk. Everything about the experience was excellent from the fact that they have free wi-fi and the very generous portions, to the fact that when I asked to have the chicken on the menu replaced with ham in my scramble, they said no problem. The amount of fruit on the side was so refreshing - it actually felt like a healthy meal, even though the rest of my scramble was fried (rightly so) - yum! Lastly, they use reusable / recyclable plastic to-go boxes, not the standard styrofoam, so they are helping save the planet while helping you enjoy the rest of your delicious meal at a later date! read more

I love the breakfast here...in the years I have been going, I have yet to go for dinner. Service can be slow at times, but I love the dishes. This is definitely the place to go for comfort food. read more

Great ideas. Ok execution. If you're looking for breakfast, Cafe 21 beats the pants of this place. read more

I have never before today been to Crest Cafe for breakfast. Big mistake on my part. I ordered the "hangover" omelet, which consists of jalepenos, spicy chicken sausage, jack cheese, avocado, and topped with chimmichurri. AMAZING. It didn't exactly cure my hangover, but it helped. The homefries and toast were great additions, and their portions are more than ample. Give it a try for breakfast! read more

The food is still good but damn their services is horrible. I called in to try their delivery service on my own (until this point my friends had taken the reigns on ordering). I did my due-diligence to check to see what the minimum order for delivery was, saw nothing on their website. Awesome! Good to go right? So I called to place my order....it rang and rang and rang and rang. I get it, its busy there. Hang up and try calling again 5 mins later. Same result. Try it again 15 mins later. This time I let it ring til someone picked up... It was some annoyed girl. She asked where I was to see if delivery was possible. When I gave her my address, she wasnt sure if she could deliver there. My friend lives further away than I do and somehow they are able to deliver to my friend's place. So after establishing that delivery was possible. I placed my order. which came out to around $9. Appearently minimum amount is $12. Ugh, really? So I decide just to go pick up my food. When I get there I wait. And wait. And wait...It was surprisingly not busy, like I had thought when I called. While I waited, I found the culprit of the phone line being tied up. There was a girl, just sitting be hind the counter, with a scowel on her face obviously having a personal conversation with whoever was on the other line. The up-side, there was a very sweet server who came to help me out after a little bit. Overall I was pretty mad with the service that night. read more

I've had one bad experience here and two mixed/pretty decent experiences. The worst: the service was super slow, even though we were the only ones there. I had the spicy mac & cheese (usually my favorite item on any menu), and it was downright gross. The macaroni was a little too al dente, and the cheese, instead of being thick and creamy, was really liquidy/thin and stringy. I couldn't bring myself to finish it, and I LOVE food so you know that it's gotta be pretty bad if *I* don't want to eat it. The best: even though it was busy, we were seated right away and our server was totally great. We had burgers (SO good here!!!) and a really great time just relaxing and chatting. The mixed: we ordered FREE DELIVERY (omg! so awesome!) and it was super fast. The burgers were again fantastic, but they brought the bf the wrong burger. :( Also, I tried their potato salad as a side instead of fries, and it was SUPER SUPER GROSS. Since we were home, we tried spicing it up a bit and adding stuff to it, but it was still downright inedible. The potato chunks were just uncooked fries. The potato shouldn't be crunchier than the celery! I'll go back, but only for the burgers and probably only on 2-for-1 Tuesday nights. read more

Sometimes it's not a good idea to eat at places when it's crowded...Crest Cafe is one of those places. The quality gets lost. Ordered their signature Creme brûlée French toast and the taste just wasn't there. Had a side of bacon and it looked like it was jerky! We had a the New York steak...that was a mess! Too much char and it was too tough for a medium steak!! Lastly, my GF had an omelette and it was supper runny inside. ONE AND DONE! read more

After reading the a-hole ripping reviews on this site I was really curious about this place. My sister wanted to go so we tried it. When I go out with my mom and sister we're usually, well, a pain in the butt. We ask for separate checks, etc. I told them, no separate checks this time. OK so, things I didn't like: The "tea bag surcharge." What the??? Seriously? Parking issues Things I liked: Kent's Granola Kent (what? he was very nice to us!) So even though I've only been once and only for breakfast, not dinner, based on this one visit I'll mosey over there again. The granola was really good and lasted (literally) until dinner at 7. Dude. read more

there is something to be said about a place that has a plate called "veggie mess"... the veggie mess is delicious! just the thought of it makes me salivate. this little cafe/diner is simple yet hip to the 9s. the setting is very neat and i love looking at the pictures on their walls, they make me want to travel for sure. my only little complaint is the service. sometimes it gets so freaking insane in there that the waitress/ waiter can forget to bring you your bill or a simple coffee refill. the staff is (however) very friendly and very nice. my favorite waiter there is tom. he is absolutely pleasant, fabulous and wonderful! crest cafe, love you! read more

Came here with my friend on Sunday night after feeling the rejecting from a closer by diner, even though was only 11 at night. In here the server was very attentive and the food was served fast and was better than expected. We ordered the catfish with mash potatoes and vegetables and tasted like made by the mom of someone! I was always wanted to go to this diner thinking that was pretty cute (at least on the outside) but did not like the layout once inside). Also I found the AC to be too high but it was ok overall because the most important is that the fish wasted like freshly caught and the spice mix used blended very well. read more

I was expecting a ton of attitude from both the servers and/ or management but surprisingly enough the experience wasnt bad at all. This place used to get hated on pretty hard a few years ago on this very web site of ours. It was comical at one point but things seemed to have mellowed out considerably. The food has been decent. To be honest ever since St Tropez closed down, this is my new temporary replacement. Ive only been here for breakfast, never for lunch or dinner. read more

Sunday morning heading to the farmers market, plan was to hit up Einstein bagels and move on, we turned the corner and hubby sees the words "comfort food" or something to the likes and plans changed. The menu outside has several yummy sounding options and is relatively crowded for 9am in Hillcrest so we figure it's gotta be good. The place is small and looks like 1980's south beach possible came here and died but whatever we are quickly seated in some really cool church like seats. Coffee is brought quickly waiter is not fake nice (they get a star just for that). The flavor of the coffee is run of the mill diner grade with a splash of bitter, I was expecting it to be better since the menu is obviously geared toward people who know and love food. So much on the menu to drool over hubby cant decided but the waiter is there and I am ready, the waiter rather cockily suggests the breakfast quesadilla stating it is the only thing on the menu worth ordering and what happens next makes my jaw drop... hubby actually gets it, he never does that, (I think once we almost left a restaurant for that same reason). I am like well great so is my food gonna suck now since apparently he just got the only good thing, I waiver for a moment but then move on and get the pancakes with lemon and ricotta cheese mixed in with fresh fruit on top. Hubby's food is good but they serve it with an avocado/cilantro green sauce that turns the ho-hum into serious amazingness (I went home later that day to recreate it but forgot to buy avocados so it ended up being chimichurie sauce LOL) it kinda reminds me of a kicked up version of the avocado salsa at el polo loco My pancakes have a great melt in your mouth consistency and the fruit is really fresh, my only complaint was that I couldn't taste the lemon at all and still not really sure if it was worth paying extra for. All in all everything was really fresh and had good flavors (except the coffee). There are several other breakfast items that peeked our interest so we will be going back and eating our way through it. read more

This one almost had five stars (would get 4.5 if possible) but my guest found the peach cobbler wanting better topping. I had no trouble finishing their share. What I liked about this bastion of comfort food in Hillcrest included the scene, the service, and the decor. The scene was as expected for a Summer night of dining in Hillcrest, where I had frequented years ago. The neighborhood seems to be more balanced and changing for the better without losing its soul. The service we enjoyed was first rate--water glasses never empty, special requests handled well, good advice from the waiter-Jason. The decor included plenty of well displayed photography and other eye candy. Another yelper's comment was spot on when they described the inside as "welcome to a gay man's living room" The food was terrific too--try the Adobo Pork Chops. My guest said her Tuna Melt sandwich was one of the best she'd ever tasted, better than nearby Corvette Diner. The sides were fresh and well prepared. The beverage list was extensive. This qualified Crest Cafe as a great place for a low profile date night--at least on this occasion. A mixed bag of reviews tells me that maybe I was lucky to get the scene, service and food on top marks at the same time. At least I had the proper expectations going in--that's a yelp strength. read more

Ok, so! I went here for the first time recently. . . and YUM! Everything was pretty darn amazing, and the service was spot-on! I got the butter burger. (I know, weird, but dang, YUM!) I wasn't a fan of the Jicama slaw, but it wasn't bad - just not what I was expecting. I think I'll order my burger medium to medium-well next time, my medium-rare was a little too pink for my usual taste. I would totally have given them a 5, but my partner-in-crime got food poisoning from something which he suspects was the tuna melt (since we both ate the same things that day 'cept for that)... but it was delish enough that we'll still go back regardless. Or I will anyhow. read more

This place has a special place in my heart because this is one of the first neighborhood joints my husband and I frequented upon moving here. Very tasty comfort food. The waitstaff is somewhat rude, but the good food outweighs this fact. Here's what I recommend: *Veggie burger (ask for the multi-grain bun) (P.S. This is the best I have found in San Diego) *Spinach Salad with honey-jalapeno dressing (dressed with delicious walnuts, mushrooms, red onions, and gorgonzola crumbles; served with a side of warm sourdough) *Freshly cut fries read more

I had the blackened catfish w/side of vegs & mashed potatoes gravy and it was served as if it was cooked by your aunt or grandma. Very hearty and homy with a capital H which is I guess what you would expect from this retro diner. I gulped it down in minutes but I can't really give this place 5 stars only because it doesn't have the extra finer touches of a 5 star dining. But other than that I found the service to be very good as well, as should a mom n pops should be. I read all those 1 star rants about the servers and owner and they just seem so outlandish and unfounded like they had some personal bone to pick. That's one thing about the service industry is that you have some ppl that will expect 3 star Michelin service and food from a mom n pomps diner that there's no pleasing them. I know this well as my step dad who was a retired marine would always pretend something was not right with his food/service so he would get a free meal and most of the time his smooth BS worked and I just despised that type of behavior. I sat outside which was dog friendly btw and although the waiter was not a bowl full of sunshine, he sat me down within seconds & came outside few times after the food was served to make sure if i needed anything and if the food was alright. I came inside and asked for a lemon for my fish from one of the owner lady and she was more than happy to obliged with a smile and enthusiasm that I just cannot see how those horrible experiences from other yelpers was remotely possible. Solid 4 stars from me. read more

What a great eatery. We did have to wait a bit, but it was very much worth it. We got the isabelles patties - made of potato and zucchini served with marinara, they were delicious and enough for the 5 of us to share. East Texas Fried Chicken was delicious as well, with the slices of jalepeno molded into the breading. Salad was bright, crisp and a layer of fresh mushrooms - delicious! I would come back! They also do free delivery to close by neighborhoods! read more

We ordered through Uber eats and we were well over an hour of waiting so I thought I would call to check the status. The woman that answered the phone was extremely rude staring, "you are going to have to hold." I've now been on hold for 11 minutes. She came back and said our order "left a long time ago." It never arrived and right after our phone conversation it was cancelled. I don't believe in coincidences. We moved yesterday and I really didn't feel like venturing out for food. I had been wanting to try this place but won't now. read more

I just went to the Crest Cafe for a weekend breakfast and was impressed with not having to wait (got a table within a minutes) and the relaxed atmosphere. Great landscape photography. Good service. The food though was only ok. Portions seemed small for a basic breakfast. read more

I LOVE this place. It's awful that I live right across the alley because every time I walk by I think about what I would want to eat there. The food is great (the portions make me smile--whether it's because I am starving or am really excited to have some delicious leftovers to take home), the servers are always super nice, and the prices are definitely reasonable. I'm all about my 2 for 1 coupons, and this is the one place I'm always down for, even without the coupons. Get on the mailing list though--I used a 2 for 1 coupon they sent me the other day. Although they don't do the 2 for 1 coupon things in the Uptown mailers, they do have 2 for 1 burgers on Tuesdays. Their bacon burger is AMAZING. I'm not a man candy lover generally, but they cut it up into little bits and cook it in the patty. Then they top it with onion rings (the nice thin stringy kind), and serve it with their totally nom fries. Also, when I was there with my favorite dining buddy the other night, she tried their cappuccino for the first time, She said it was delicious, the best she has had. I tried it, and although I'm a little more of a coffee connoisseur than she, I found it to be delicious. My favorite items on the menu are the burger I described above, and the Hangover omelette. If I ever leave SD, this place is going to be one of the things I miss the most--yeah, maybe it's pathetic, but it's delicious. So is the price. Lastly, check out the gorgeous mural on the alley wall. It' rad--nothing beats a giant decked out elephant and lurking about the alley. I purposely walk home through the alley to look at the thing. Enjoy! read more

Ok, it gets one more start. Went for lunch and was much better. Spinach and Gorgonzola salad was great. Put some grilled chicken breast on it which was juicy, not all dried up. Went again for breakfast, and had salmon scramble. Not what I expected, but not bad. At least the potatoes are not greasy. read more

Yum! The lemon ricotta pancakes are both lemony and cheesy! It's a pancake miracle. I don't usually order pancakes for breakfast because I don't enjoy sweet foods so much in the morning, but these were fluffy, light, and pleasantly aromatic. The Tuscan Benedict? Awesome. I am coming back here again for that. I love a place that can throw in asparagus in something for breakfast. The sundried tomato cream sauce that came on top was bomb. The fruit on the side- a nice touch, not bad, but not the best... it can't be helped though. It's so hard to get good fruit in winter. But they tried! So an A for effort. :D It was fresh, and nicely plated, but it just wasn't in season. Service was super friendly and warm, the decor was interesting in an eclectic, mellow, funky kind of way. I would gladly come here again for breakfast. Thumbs up! read more

Really disappointed. Attractive place in a great location with friendly staff BUT not worth a trip for the food. Maybe breakfast items (available all day) might be better but you can skip the Texas fried chicken. read more

Triple D (Diners. Drive-ins and Dives to the lay person) brings to light some of the most ecclectic and unexpected food finds accross North America. It is even more exciting when the Camaro driving, spkiey haired Italian comes to my neck of the woods. On a recent episode, Guy visited Crest Cafe. Although this is 28 miles from my home in North County, I made a last minute trek to Hillcrest to sample what looked like one of the most amazing burger ideas I have ever seen. The facade of the building is remeniscent of a 50's style diner and although the soundtrack of the place resonates Top 40, the service is nothing short of top 10. I walked in and was taken aback by the lack of people in a place that was featured on Food Network less than 72 hours ago. I was seated within seconds of walking through the door and tended to by an extremely friendly, upbeat, young lady. A burger by any other name would smell as sweet, but would not be narly as sinful and decadently juicy as the Butter Burger. A half pund behemoth stuffed with a garlic, tarragon, basil, and parsley compuond butter. As most of us know, fat is flavor, but when you flavor the fat, stuff it into a burger, cook it to a perfect medium and top it with a slice of real cheddar cheese, flavor takes on an entirely different meaning. It is like Umami squared. The bun, smeared with a garlic mayonnaise, was served toasted but taken a step further by brushung the top bun with a bit of butter and toasting the bottom bun on the flat top, adding a texture I have never experienced in a burger. Vegitation in the form of lettuce, tomato and red onion comes on the side. For additional texture, I say go for it and use the rabbit food. My Coronado Brewing Mermaid's Red Ale paired well with this King of Burgers. read more