This is my go to place for a hard work week. Special occasions make this a place to celebrate ! The manager is super accommodating with the seating! If I come alone he knows I want the window seat and the wait staff let's me read. I appreciate the simple throwback to the 50's. Plus the food is the BEST! The only con was the Apple pie it's not a keeper Especially for the price . . Keep up the good work Crest Cafe ()so sweet to watch) how you encourage proactively the training of the new wait staff!!! Pearl A. Souther M..Ed. read more

Just came in on Christmas and I was given the WORST attitude from all of the employees that I came in contact with I've never been so disrespected by people of costumer service in my entire life and recommend NONE of my friends or family that live in the area to ever step foot in this establishment. It's CHRISTMAS guys come on?! The older lady with the brown hair and the bangs was incredibly rude and inhospitable aswell as the bartender with blonde hair and glasses. NEVER COMING BACK HERE AGAIN. You guys don't even deserve one star. read more

Great breakfast spot with funky options like the grilled cheese peanut butter bacon sandwich. My wife and I came here on our honeymoon and we're attracted to the fact that this place was on Guy Fieri's show. we had the peanut butter grilled cheese and a burrito for breakfast and they were good. I am not a fan of sweet and salty but my wife said it was interesting and worth a try! read more

My pancakes were great. I was happy to make my pregnant wife happy. If your a homophobe this place might not be for you. Oh well your loss.

Large helpings, good entrees and good food. This is probably what good diners were like back in the 1950's. And the second time I came here was on a Tuesday night (buy one burger get one free) and everything was great. Especially the company so if you have a beautiful girlfriend you should bring her here. read more

I really like Crest Cafe's large selection of food and hefty portions. I have been here for dinner on a week night, and breakfast on a Sunday morning. The week night experience was great- friendly server, awesome food- a good time had by all. The Sunday breakfast experience however, I know was not what it should have been. Our waiter was cranky and downright rude. He seriously re-filled our coffees 2 times and was less than interested in our tables needs. I took my parents that Sunday and was really embarrassed by our waiters attitude. I get that it was busy as a normal weekend should be- but his attitude was just uncalled for. The food however is always de-lish. read more

We were starved upon arriving in Hillcrest, and decided to jet in for a quick and simple meal to tide us over for dinner. We ordered three items, two of them appetizers. The sliders weren't really what I would classify as "sliders." They were three big decent sized burgers, not mini-burgers. And they were really seasoned heavily, which is not a bad thing since they were quite tasty. It was just unexpected from the normal sliders I'm used to seeing. The chicken skewers were okay; nothing to write home about in my opinion, although my friends seemed to like them. Finally we got an apple sausage goudah quesadilla. It sounds like an odd combo, but it was interesting. My main complaint was that it didn't hold together well enough like a quesadilla should. The sausage kept falling out, and it just wasn't cohesive. The restaurant has an interesting decor, complete with benches that look like they were once church pews. I'd be willing to try more of the food and will keep it in mind if I find myself hungry in Hillcrest again. read more

Stopped by here recently over the holidays before flying out of San Diego. I had some sort of breakfast sandwich that was pretty good. Nothing spectacular. From looking at the menu, perhaps I was a little too conservative in my approach. I went for something sort of standard while it looks like much of their menu is designed for more adventurous breakfast eaters. Maybe the next time I go here, I'll think a little more out of the box. read more

The food is tasty and the cooks/chefs are quick once they've gotten your order, but the wait-staff is way too short-staffed. This may be due to the management being too cheap to hire more servers when needed (which is most of the time). Each time I've gone, I've had to wait a very long time to order as I watch the servers race to try to deliver meals and take orders from way too many tables at once. The decor is retro and fun but otherwise the atmosphere is ruined by the frantic rushing around of the servers. Come on, managers, hire more waiters! Customer service is being compromised! read more

Healthy food choices. Gets a lot of hype and I don't get it. I know lots of people love to wait in line and put up with long service times for breakfast food, I guess I'm not one of them. Perhaps if the food was REALLY extraordinary, yet it wasn't. Great landmark, good for the community...I'll give them that. read more

I took my maiden voyage to Crest Cafe today, and it will definitely not be my last I had an amazingly sinful BUTTER Burger with fresh cut fries. Everything me and my friends had looked and tasted absolutely delish. The prices were not bad at all for the portions and quality and yumminess factor. The check for 4 of us was only $51, and we all left completely stuffed and 100% blissful Now I need to go back to try those shakes I was eyeballing... read more

Let's just cut to it - what do I frequently order for breakfast/brunch from this old favorite of mine? + Eggs benedict. I judge breakfast/brunch places by their eggs benny. I look to see if the eggs are actually poached (i.e. it hasn't become hard-boiled), and if the hollandaise is the right balance between lemon+cream and silky smooth vs. clumpy. Crest Cafe is a plus on both accounts. + Meat and Cheese omlette. I get this when I'm craving protein. And, I figured it's a better deal than to do the two eggs any style meal + spicy chicken sausage because, in the end, they price out about the same, but with the omlette, I make out with an extra egg. + French toast with added pecans. Just because. + Mexican hot chocolate. They're one place in San Diego that I think serves Mexican hot chocolate RIGHT, i.e. not heavy on the milk and a slight bitterness balanced with hints of cinnamon. read more

Mmmmm Mmmm Mmm. When I think of Crest Cafe I think of the best homestyle breakfast known to man. Seriously, this tiny little place powers a mean punch when it comes to breakfast. I usually opt for the greek style egg white omelet. The fresh veggies and homestyle fries are amazing. I'm not a huge fan of artichokes, but at the Crest Cafe I'm hunting those green delights with my fork. I could go on and on at how fabulous this place is, but you truly won't know it untl you try it. Trust me, the price is right and everything on the menu is an absolute treat. So, do yourself a favor. Call in sick tomorrow at work and make a date with the Crest Cafe. You'll thank me for it. read more

Keep in mind I arrived around 3:30pm on a weekday, the most random hour to eat. That's what happens when you get sick! Anyways, the waiter wasn't super friendly but he did a pretty good job, and actually did start talking to me after I started up a conversation. I ordered a bad choice, the turkey and brie sandwich. It was gross, but the ingredients separately were good, I just think it was a bad combination all-together. The fries it came with looked and smelled like the were fried in old grease, but they tasted o.k. (Keep in mind I had a severe cold and my taste buds were probably way off) I might go back again, but order something completely different! read more

Crest Cafe - View from my seat at nearly 4pm on a monday - Cafes Near Me - San Diego, California

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After visiting my parents in the frozen tundra of the midwest after finals, I returned to San Diego on Christmas Eve. I got off the plane around 5pm and by 7 was ready for dinner. What was open? Boyfriend and I wandered our Hillcrest neighborhood in search of dinner. Thai and Indian restaurants were packed, but not the food we were feeling. Then we came across Crest Cafe. They seated us right away, it was kind of chilly inside but the service was warm and welcoming. Our server was really nice and when we decided on what to order, he was very helpful in picking sides and dressings and so on. Fresh squeezed orange juice as well! Boyfriend got the Billy's burger, with sauteed mushrooms, onions and swiss cheese. It was big and had a heaping portion of fries on the side. Plus pickles! And he asked for it medium rare I got the Macaroni and Cheese with chicken breast, chopped bacon, and broccoli. It came with a side salad (the basil vinaigrette was just as amazing as our server had said it would be!). The pasta was a foodgasm every bite. It was creamy and rich and the multiple cheeses stood out as a macaroni and cheese with style. I got pretty full but I couldn't help but finish it. The restaurant got pretty busy while we were there but the service was great. We appreciated the great attitudes of the employees, especially considering it was Christmas Eve. We will definitely be back! read more

Honestly one of my favorite places to eat in Hillcrest and San Diego in general. The burgers are always great (personally recommend Billy's). They're big, juicy, and taste (quite simply) amazing. The fries are usually a toss-up; some days they're good and others they're super mushy and gross. Food aside, I love the waiting staff. Tom is so friendly and attentive! The only downside to this place is that they DO NOT split bills (unless Tom is in a good mood). read more

Saw this place on Diners Drive Ins and Dives. Tried it with my boyfriend on our west coast trip. We have been back everyday since the first time. Their chicken and waffles are excellent! And omelets are plentiful! The taste is daring and full of flavor! Must try. read more

Crest Cafe - Yummy!!!!!! - Cafes Near Me - San Diego, California

Food was so good!! Service was wonderful as well. They had a huge menu. Lots to chose from. Waiting was about 40 minutes so I had to take off one star. read more

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Been here in the past for lunch and had the Butter burger, and it was awesome. Wendy in for a late, late night dinner yesterday and ordered the butter burger once more. Only to be disappointed. Whoever was the cool that night, really charbroiled the burger. It was crusted black on both sides of the patty. This just killed the Taste. We let that go, and tried the croissant dark chocolate pudding. Was awesome. Will hopefully give them a try in the future and hopefully they can redeem themselves on the burger. Until then 3-stars for dinner, but 4-for dessert. read more

Had my mom coming into to town today, so after picking her up from the airport I brought her here! Great decision! We were both very happy! First off the service is great! Our server Faustino was on point and fantastic! They are very lucky to have him! We both did a simple breakfast of two eggs, potatoes, and toast. I had mine with the country potatoes! Wow so good! Everything was very fresh and tasty. And the coffee was fantastic! I don't usually have much to say about a restaurants coffee but theirs is awesome! I will be back again and soon! read more

This place is delicious! Whenever we go to San Diego I insist that we eat breakfast here at least once. The atmosphere feels like an old timey diner with somewhat wacky colors. I have been here three times now and have yet to have a long wait, though they do require everyone to be present before seating you. There are two dishes that are absolutely fantastic and it causes me anxiety trying to decide on just one. As a result, I order both. The hangover omelet is savory and spicy while the french toast is deliciously sweet. This establishment was featured on DDD with Guy Fieri and they are very proud of this. TL:DR Delicious food. Somewhat famous. Get the Hangover omelet or the french toast. read more

This is a nice little find. The staff is cute and attentive, although they may need to add one more person during the morning rush. The food is well prepared and presented. The prices are a bit high which makes going more of a treat rather then a normal morning spot. read more

Crest Cafe - Cafes Near Me - San Diego, California

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I saw them on the food channel and had to try their Creme Brulee French toast. Yes, it's as good as it looks! Typically this dish is made with old bread, but they must make it with fresh baked brioche because it just melts in your mouth. Definitely a must if you are hungry for French Toast. What I especially like is that it's not super sweet. Just the right amount of cream with a very settle taste of orange. Yum! read more

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

Great food. Great vibe. Service is always so friendly and inviting. I really love it here!

From out of town. We were drawn to this place because it looked like a classic little cafe and it was packed. Coffee was great, the Mediterranean Scramble was great BUT the pancakes... not so much. They had lemon ricotta pancakes, Power pancakes and I think a Honey wheat. All sounded great but I went for the classic buttermilk. I figured since they were $11 for a stack of three, they should be amazing. I was so disappointed and was going to send them back but my 5 year old son wanted pancakes and he would eat Denny's Pancakes. That's exactly what they reminded me of. Flat, pale and rubbery. I mean RUBBERY! I hope the manager/owner reads this. Please do something about this. I have no problem paying $11 for pancake but they need to be worth it. I definitely did not get what I paid for. That's why I gave 2 stars. read more

I tried this place with a group of friends who eat there fairly often. The food and service were good and it was over all a pleasant experience. I had always wanted to check it out. My SO had a bad experience there though and it is always very crowded so I haven't been back. That isn't necessarily Crest's fault. It's just one of those things. read more

Open late and always quality food. Been here ten plus times... A great fallback choice if you are incapable of thinking due to hunger. I dig this place but fear the Hillcrest parking nightmare. Service has always been good, and I tend to take picky eaters here, they usually approve (after a good smack...) read more

The Crest Cafe is awesome! When you are in need of comfort food with a little bit of flare, Crest is the place to go. Plenty of vegetarian options. My favorite is the soup with 1/2 sandwich, 1/2 salad. I go for the veggie chili, veggie sandwich plus house salad. Mmmm! Breakfast here is good, too. I like the quirky diner feel. This place is fun and a great place to meet a friend or for a casual date. Parking can be tough, so just be prepared to circle the block once or twice. Cheers! read more

I had the Stuffed BBQ Bacon Burger. If the meat was a little more juicy I would have given it 5 stars. It seemed a little more on the lean side. Overall, it was a good burger. The coleslaw was good as well. read more

Crest Cafe - Stuffed BBQ bacon burger - Cafes Near Me - San Diego, California

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Came here on a whim because my niece did not want to go to a higher yelp ranked restaurant one street over. Late lunch, not crowded. Good value: buy one burger, get one free on Tues nights. Salmon burger and potato chips are good. Decent place for broke college kids, thankfully I am past that phase. read more

Sometimes this place can be a little overwhelming... their menu has everything amazing on it!!!! I've been here a bunch of time and have tried something new every time. Ask the server what their favorite is, and it will soon become your favorite as well. There is something for everyone here!! Employees are really friendly and helpful. They will help anyone if there is a touch decision to be made. Always there to fill your glass with more coffee! I've only been here for breakfast, but if their morning food is as good as their evening food, I'll be trying it out very soon. read more

Burger was decent, really nice bun. Fries had potential but way undercooked. Butterscotch apple dessert thing with ice cream was amazing. Served perfectly hot and couldn't be better. At least with this meal, the dessert really stood out beyond the main. I did however start with the chicken tortilla soup and it was delicious. I like the menu (almost a bit too big... Pushing the "Greek diner esque"), and the homemade angle. read more

Walked in and was asked by three different people, "how many are you?"? Well let me clarify that, the third person didn't even ask us and I believe she was the owner. But no one sat us so we finally just sat at the bar. The food was good. I ordered the yucatan sandwich. It had lots of meat, cheese and a fried egg on it. Service was okay once we sat at the bar. Overall cute atmosphere and I would give it a second try since the menu had some interesting tasty items to try. read more

Yes, I mean this place does have good food and some uptown charm but it is still lacking in that over the top service to take it to that next level. Place: Hillcrest Uptown, central, local and interesting. Service: Good service, they truly try to stay on top of it here inspite of being slammed on the weekends. Price: Average for the food. Food: Good, very good. The menu and food are not lacking here. What I have had here has all been very good, maybe not memorable but very good. One time, the potatoes that accompanied the eggs benedict that I ordered they were under-cooked but you know every place is entitled to some fowl-ups now and again. 4 stars over-all. :) read more

This was a fun and delicious. The food was very good, we actually ordered the Creme Brulé French Toast, Butter Burger, Grilled Cheese Bacon Peanut Butter and the Meatloaf. Surprising me, the Grilled Cheese was my favorite. It was a perfect combination flavor, I loved it. Really great service, clean and just enjoyable. Good coffee too!!! read more

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We came to this cafe after admiring the location and the exterior look but we were greeted by a very rude employee, this along with the high prices and basic options on the menu caused us to turn around and go to one of the many other places in town. Will not be back. read more

Holly smokes!!! AMAZING! ! it took 20m just to order (so many amazing sounding choices). I left so full, can't wait for the next visit!

The first time Chris and I came here, we had an awful experience with some of the worst service ever. My husband pretty much refuses to go back to places once he's had a bad experience, but since it's so close to home, he decided we should give it another try. Whatever the problem was years ago, it's been resolved. The service is always good when we go in, the waiters are cool, and the breakfast is amazing. I prefer the Apple Cinnamon french toast and Chris gets the creme brulee french toast, which are both delicious. We love going back there now and I recommend it to everyone for breakfast/brunch. I'm not sure about dinner, because we've never been there for it, but I'm re-addicted to french toast thanks to Crest Cafe. Oh yeah, they have great coffee, too. read more

Friendly servers. Great food. Open late. What more could you want? Vegetable lasagna, deli-fresh sandwiches, veggie burgers and homemade vegetarian chili makes this place an unassuming haven for vegetarians and/or vegans when the specialty places charge too much or have closed up early for the night. The portabella mushroom sandwich is amazing and they always give you LOTS of food (falling off the side of the plate). PLUS, now they DELIVER to your HOME for FREE! A nice alternative to pizza. This classic Hillcrest fixture will never get old. Yummy! read more

I have been here a number of times with my husband and/or small groups of friends. It is wonderful. The food is made with very fresh ingredients, the portions are satisfying, and the cuisine is unique and delicious. That being said, I can only make these claims about the breakfast fare, as I have not ventured from those menu options on my trips to Crest. The last time I dined there was Monday, and I had the shrimp scramble with hollandaise. This is the second time that I ordered it, and it was delish. The hubby had the Sam the Cooking Guy French toast, and when he was done, he threatened to order another serving because he thought it was so good. In the past, I've had the Hangover (delish) and the Salmon Scramble (very good), and both were tasty. The salmon scramble did need a little something, though...maybe more seasoning? But it was fresh and tasty overall. The coffee is okay, and they have a great selection of hot teas. The service for me has always been good. The food is served quickly and the staff always brings you whatever you ask for in a timely manner. I have never had any rude encounters that I see in these reviews. I do think it is a bit crowded in there. I don't know that just because you can fit that many chairs and tables in, that you should fit that many chairs and tables in. You know? Overall, I like it here. And I now that I'll be back. There are a few things on the menu that I am eager to try. :) read more