Love everything about this place. The food is outstanding and the service is fantastic. The only problem is I want to.order everything on the menu. Oh well it just means I need to come back! Highly recommend. read more

I've been coming here for years and have always had a wonderful experience with great food. For reviewer Kelsi from Temecula, I'm one of those older diners, almost to the age of 70. Sorry you had to sit by so many old people. As far as service is concerned, the owner always greets us with a friendly smile and always remembered our names. When in comes to servers, Tammy usually was our food server. She too, always greeted us with a smile and wonderful attentive service. I would highly recommend this restaurant, read more

Nice little restaurant! Staff and good are both great! I highly recommend! All the ladies in our group enjoyed their food.

It amazes me...you would thing that the pretention of the establishment and the laziness of the service would somehow be offset by good food. You'd be wrong--the Garden Center Cafe has found a remarkable pairing of indifferent service and tasteless food. So if you wish to feel judged but still want to taste flavors akin to that of an old cracker, come here. Oh, and don't worry about other people--the restaurant is usually vacant. read more

My husband and I went for dinner on Saturday night. We had a 4:30 reservation, of which we were the only ones there. And being the only ones there, Service was very slow to come and greet the table. Was surprising. And then my husband ordered baby back ribs and received St. Louis style rib, cut up. First, they should not be cut up, as that dries them out. Since they weren't baby back ribs, they were dry and chewy. And the price is $28. They misrepresent what they are selling. Sorry, we were disappointed, both in quality of the meal and how long it took to get our food. read more

I found this place on Yelp, and my SO and I met another couple there for a mid-afternoon lunch. The place is nice lookin' enough, and the service was excellent throughout. Unless the food is exceptionally poor (see other reviews), I don't often send food back. Even if the food is bad, I'll usually just eat it, and then never return. However, the one thing I cannot tolerate in any restaurant is cold food - if it shows up cold, it goes back. Period. Our two orders of Eggs Benedict came out cold. The sauce had already skinned over and you could see just from looking at it that it was cold. Before the server even left our table, I stuck my finger into my cold eggs, and asked her to redo them. She explained to me that the sauce is cold, but when they put the cold sauce on the hot eggs it "warms up" the sauce. Truncated theories on endo-and exo thermics notwithstanding, the eggs went back. A minute or so later, she returned with the same eggs - only now they were charred from the Salimander, and the bread was mushy. We both ordered something else - if I wanted to eat warmed up left-overs at $10+ pop, I'da stayed home. This place is open only a few days a week, and perhaps the owners have decided to phone-it-in. After all, it's Fallbrook, who knows anything about food, eh? Well, I do. And, so do all my fat-rich friends. I also know that there are about 1/2 doz. other places within a few blocks that actually care about the quality of the food they serve. How lame are you that you serve cold eggs, and then so arrogant that you won't even re-make them? What's the cost of that? $3? Lesson for all those who are sick of getting ripped off by lame restaurants like this, and cooks who could give a -s--t: Send it back, and then ORDER SOMETHING ELSE. A couple weeks of that, and maybe the owners will see a dent in their receipts and then realize it's about having standards. IMHO, the standards here are sooo low, that serving cold food is just fine with them. PS: I ordered a burger to replace my cold eggs - it was chewy and flavorless. Another great job. read more

Enjoyed a nice patio brunch with family on Father's Day. I had the Monte Cristo that was grilled rather than the deep-fried standard...great choice that came with a side of seasoned potatoes. My only suggestion on this entree would be to serve it with a dish of strawberry jelly (or a choice of another flavor syrup) but not the plastic Smucker packet it came with. The specials my family chose were equally good. We really enjoyed this place despite it being a bit slow on service initially. read more

Mediocre food (the burgers and the beef dip), mediocre service, children's menu is small and the pricing is ridiculously high for the bad quality of food served, also bad parking. Will not be going back. read more

Every time I've gone here the service is absolutely horrible. Each time worse than the last. But their nice patio is the main reason I love ever ended up there. Well today my family and I went and the waitress never bothered to even fake a smile at us, was short and oblivious to what customer service is. It took SO long to get our food, our waitress never checked on us. When we'd call her over she would turn and walk away before we got a chance to finish what we called her over for. Once we finally finished our mediocre, over priced meals and waited for about 10 minutes, we called her over again to ask for boxes and the check. Before we finished asking she once again turned and walked away. I was pissed. So I go inside where I attempted to talk to the owner (who by the way stole a painting from my grandmother when it was only to be on display in the restaurant for 1 month). I asked him literally 5 times to split the bill and instead he ignored me while the server gave us attitude again, and charged it all to my moms card instead of listening to me speaking to him. We asked for lemon water, I literally got a lice of lemon rhine. I asked for toast before the meal comes out, I had to ask her 30 minutes later for the toast that was then brought out with the meal. We had to holler her down several times. She had bad attitude. The owner is a slime. This will be the last time, ever. read more

We have been here several times since we have moved to Fallbrook. Every single time we have been here the service is poor. 1) my pet peeve is not refilling my drinks ugh! This really frustrates me 2) I like fun, smiley, bubbly people who act like they really want your business. We usually go for breakfast (it is not served all day). I order a "create your own" omelette. It has bacon, diced ham, onions, mushrooms and pepper jack cheese. They carry hash browns but only during the week. I also get a side of toast. They do not have orange marmalade. My husband orders the stuffed french toast. This thing is loaded with sugar! However their sauce is to die for! It is so delicious! He also orders a side of bacon or sausage. The sausage is a good portion and the bacon is a tad-bit salty for me, perfect for him. Overall experience: Food C+ (because sometimes they are out of items or don't carry them at certain times of the day or week) Service D- Price B+ (they give healthy portions for what you pay for) Would we return again? Probably for the food, but I guarantee I am going to kick myself and ask why we ate there again after I sit for 20 minutes waiting for my diet coke to arrive. read more

Came for dinner last night and was fully impressed. To be honest we were expecting just a step up from Denny's, but wow was I wrong and so happy about that. The waitress was amazing she was very knowledgeable and attentive, let me try a few wines before deciding on the perfect glass. Our water glasses never ran empty (huge bonus) and my steak was cooked to perfect temperature. We walked out happy. It's a great local place you can come casual and get a well prepared filling meal. read more

I have had breakfast and dinner here many times and the food is usually very good. The restaurant is very clean and all of the wait staff are very friendly. The Garden Center specializes in their yummy dressing which is usually quite good. This leads me to the gripe about the salad I had recently. The inside ribs of romaine lettuce are quite bitter and my salad was loaded with them. Whoever was the kitchen prep that was working in kitchen the other day does not seem to know very much about about lettuce. It is pretty much universally known that the ribs of romaine lettuce should be used sparingly or not at all in a salad. One other thing. This restaurant is in dire need of a menu spruce up. They have had the same menu for years and years. With all of the amazing recipes either in cookbooks or on the Internet it should not be too hard. The owners should go check out some of the "hot" restaurants in San Diego to get some new ideas. Keep the prime rib and some of the crowd favorites but it would not hurt to let go of some of the other entrées. Create some new dessert options as well. Fallbrook has a shortage of good restaurants so there really is not much competition as far as nicer restaurants go. Maybe the owners have become complacent. The intent of my review is not to be nasty, it is to give honest customer feedback to a restaurant where I frequent on a weekly basis. The Garden Center is very very close to my home and I have enjoyed having a restaurant that is near my domicile. Come on garden center get your act together and freshen up your menu and learn how to make a proper salad. This is especially true when you're charging $14 for a relatively small salad. read more

Garden Center Cafe - A $14.00 salad that was awful - New American Near Me - Fallbrook, California

Enjoyed dinner here this evening and I was alone. The owner who saw me to my table sat me at a prime table set for four. He didn't seem to mind that a single took a table for 4. The service was great and the waitress was very friendly. I had the special of steak and lobster with garlic mashed potatoes and asparagus. It was all delicious and cooked superbly. I enjoyed their salad with pine nuts, golden raisins and feta,a house special which was great. Warmed fresh pumpernickel bread was a great addition. The best part of the evening was Walt Ruggeri who played a digital saxophone which was truly amazing and great background music ! What a treat, he was wonderful! I loved their outdoor patio which was surrounded by lovely gardens ! When I come back to Fallbrook I know where to go for great food , service and entertainment ! I highly recommend it ! read more

A lovely place to lunch. The berry salad is my favorite... Along with the bread pudding. The patio is a great spot to dine with beautiful flowers and water cascading quietly. The plastic chairs aren't the best, but the view makes up for it. Inside is nothing spectacular, but it's cozy. I enjoy dining here with girlfriends and enjoying a warm, sunny day. read more

Garden Center Cafe - New American Near Me - Fallbrook, California

Had the eggs benedict and was very satisfied. For under $10 it came with fresh potatoes mixed with onions and green peppers. Nothing to write home about, but certainly better than many. Hard to drink a full cup of coffee without them filling it back up. For that matter, the service was eggcellent! Not too pushy, very friendly and attentive. The ambiance is pleasant as well. They have indoor seating as well as a wonderful patio with water fountain and lots of earthy plants. It is called "Garden" Center ;) We arrived on a Saturday at 11am and almost thought it was closed. Thankfully it was open and serves breakfast all day on Saturday. No reservations can be made, so keep this in mind because apparently this place is quite popular and has a wait on every other day (besides Saturday). Oh, and they have lots of small baked goods you can take with you. They also serve what is said to be an excellent dinner too. read more

The food is good and there is plenty of it. But it's so slow you need to pack a lunch before you eat there. Don't be alarmed with slow service. Take in your surroundings and make the best of it. read more

On our first visit to Fallbrook we chose Oink and Moo for lunch. But oddly, they were not open at lunch on this Saturday afternoon. So our second choice was Garden Center Cafe, and it was great. (Healthier, too.) The turkey, bacon and avocado on ciabatta featured thin-sliced REAL white-meat turkey, not the pressed and overly salted stuff. The bacon, while not copious, was crisp and tasty, and the bread tasted fresh. The avocado was just the right ripeness. Wifey ordered the pastrami sandwich on grilled sourdough(?). I had been tempted to do the same, but good pastrami is awfully hard to find so I was dubious. However, her sandwich was quite good, the meat lean, but juicy and flavorful. Both sandwiches came with a very tasty salad with fresh (not hard) light-colored raisons, pine nuts, different types of lettuce, and the first vinaigrette dressing I've ever liked. (Also, I saw the burger at someone else's table, and it looked huge and wonderful.) The prices were around $11 for each meal, and we both brought half home for the next day's lunch. They also have great-looking desserts, though we didn't try them. read more

I have been going to Garden Center Cafe with my family since I was a tiny kid who couldn't contain her excitement about the amount of whipped cream they put on my hot chocolate. What is so great about Garden Center (well besides the food) is that the same waiters have been there since I was a kid. They are all so friendly and obviously love what they do. I've eaten here so many times I'll give you the standouts for me: The Monte Cristo- this was my first and probably my favorite monte cristo. I've had them from so many different places, and none have ever really held up to this one. Its bread is perfectly cooked in the batter, and there is some much cheese and meat it will leave you satisfied. I also prefer my monte cristos with jam and they give you just that. Get it with the potatoes or the salad and you won't be disappointed. The Garden Center Salad- I've had this both as a side and as a meal. What I really love is that if your meal comes with a side salad they don't just give you a bed of lettuce with some ranch on the side, it comes with pine nuts, golden raisins, and their champagne vinaigrette, it trumps any side salad I have ever had. If you get it as a meal, they up the portion size to huge, and add chicken and bacon (yum) with a side roll. The Cobb Salad- I remember growing up and my entire family would order the cobb salad with iced tea. This salad does not skimp on any of the toppings. You will get at least half an avocado and so much good stuff, I'm not sure it really qualifies as a salad anymore. The Prime Rib- I actually just had the prime rib as part of the two meals for $40 offer they have (great deal, comes with soup/salad, entree, and shared dessert) It had the perfect amount of fat/meat ratio and was cooked a perfect medium. I would have eaten the whole thing but I had to save room for desert. The Tortilla Soup- They will have this on special as the soup of the day, its a little spicy/tangy with shredded turkey and tortilla strips, chunks of avocado, and cheese melted on top. The Clam Chowder Bread Bowl- rivals the San Fransisco version, so good and the bread is wonderfully soft on the inside and slightly chewy and crunchy on the outside. The Berry Salad- Again what I love about their salads is that you aren't getting just lettuce and dressing, they don't skimp on their toppings. Expect lots of berries, candied walnuts (my sister has a bad tendency to ask for extras on the side) and chicken with their great dressing. The Stuffed Salmon- I love salmon, and when it comes stuffed with marscapone cheese and spinach, I love it even more. I was in the hospital and this was the first meal I had when they would allow my family to bring me food, even in a Styrofoam container it was amazing. There is just so many good things here I can't write about all of them, but you will most likely not go wrong with what you ordered. And please don't forget dessert. Their Lullaberry Cobbler, Brownie Pie, and Almond Joy Cheesecake will make your dreams so sweet! read more

As visitors to Fall Brook, my girlfriend and I were very unfamiliar with where the local hot-spots were for breakfast and lunch. With a limited selection of options via Yelp, we decided to give the Garden Center Cafe a shot! This place screamed ''local'' with folksy decor and unbelievably friendly staff. We were immediately seated in their outdoor patio which was incredibly comfortable. Gorgeous weather, nice table arrangements (which were for sale by the way), etc. Now to the food... The food was fantastic. I ordered their veggie burger which was nicely cooked, incredibly flavorful, and accompanied with a salad doused in their onion vinaigrette. Yummy! All in all, good experience. It definitely seems to be a place that appeals to an older crowd (we were the only ones in there under 60), but I certainly would return upon my next visit to Fall Brook! read more

Came here for breakfast. Nice setting and sat next to the window where the fountain was outside in the courtyard. I ordered the special which was italian sausage, red and green peppers and onions in an omelet with home fries and english muffin. The potatoes were freshly cut cubes with the skin on which not many places serving it like this. Very good. They got a little cold so I asked for them to grill them up some more and they were even better since they had a little more texture and crispiness. The omelet was a large one with plenty of sausage. The eggs were a little too cooked for me but it was still a good omelet. The staff seemed to try hard to give good service always coming by and asking how everything was. NIce breakfast and comfortable atmosphere. read more

I came here for my birthday breakfast last year , it was raining that day but the food and service made it all better ! Really recommend this place :) read more

I typically eat breakfast here every few months with a group of motorcycle riders. Always accommodating, excellent food and service. Endless coffee and always good conversation with the owner and staff. read more

We really enjoyed the quality of the food and the service was very friendly. They're only open a few days a week but this being our first time there we will definitely be back. The outdoor patio is very nice. read more

Staying in Fallbrook for a family event, decided to try this place for dinner. (Good thing we were here on a day they serve it) Best value has to be the $45 dinner for two. Your choice of appetizers, entrée and dessert, and the two diners don't have to order the same thing (but the dessert is shared so you do have to agree on that). The staff were super friendly. The down side: food takes a long time to arrive and when the restaurant fills up it's noisy. Get there early for Friday dinner or you'll have a wait. Glad we decided to try it. read more

Flew up to Fallbrook Airport on a whim and planned on walking the two miles round trip for an early lunch at this spot. I'm glad I did! It's super cute inside and the sandwich I had was fresh and delicious. My server was super friendly and attentive and there was always someone to refill my iced tea so I felt very much taken care of. I will absolutely be back next time I fly into Fallbrook and I hope this place continues to do well. Can't wait to try the peanut butter and chocolate cake I brought back with me! read more

Went here tonight with friends. Was sorely disappointed. Unfortunately, nothing was good that I ordered, although one of my friends liked the vegetables and potato. The taste was off with everything. I had the chicken picatta and the piece of chicken was rough, grizly and just did not taste good. It was super tough. Even the bread and butter was lacking. Did not care for the gnats lighting on my salad either. The server was trying to make light of my complaints with sarcasm...backfired. We won't be back. read more

Very nice atmosphere for a sunny morning breakfast. Nice also in their patio if its warm enough. A good place to bring an outside visitor, but watch your bill! Food was above average! Service is very erratic....depends on who you get & if things are ok. Been there several times but stopped going for a few years because a waitress angered me. She sneaked a 15% tip for herself as she filled out my bill. read more

NOT KID FRIENDLY!!! Owner will talk down to you as well! Seemed like a great little cafe, couldn't be more wrong. I had me and my 2 year old, if you have children do not come here. Their fountain was slimy green not running and filled with leaves. We sat near no other customers, my son was walking and exploring near the fountain, not being destructive or loud. The owner came over and called me "honey" and that the sign says he can't run around because he can fall and bust his head and they would be liable(which he could do not if he was walking in out of the restaurant) He wasn't running or anything. The sign states to not have your children out of their table for the enjoyment of customers. I had no problems with this, but her tone, calling me honey, and how she talked down to me was pretty degrading. The waitresses were over worked so we didn't even get to see our waitress for the first 10-15 minutes we sat down. The food wasn't anything out of the ordinary and took quite a bit of time to come out to the table. After we were served our food our waitress never came to check on us (overworked) so we finally had to go inside to pay as we were waiting 15 minutes after we finished for a bill. Their food was just okay, nothing you can't get anywhere else without a long wait and degrading comments. Also, they don't serve pancakes on sunday...a brunch place that doesn't serve pancakes on sundays? Seems odd and knocked out one of their 3 menu options for kid s. read more

The ambiance is perfect for a peaceful meal; surrounded by trees and birds singing all around. The food is pretty tasty and the portions are perfect. The carrot cake is beyond delicious! (says the person who doesn't really like carrot cake) Their customer service was outstanding. read more

See all

After wearing down the sidewalks of Fallbrook, we were well-rewarded with a stop at this wonderful cafe for lunch. Rumored as the power-broker hub of the area, this place has a casual air of elegance, coupled with some fine culinary options. Health-junkie that I am, I opted for their Fresh Berry Salad, layered with a sampling of greens, mounds of several types of berries, along with chunks of chicken, caramelized walnuts, and bleu cheese, all doused with a champagne vinaigrette dressing. I was soon fortified for the rest of the afternoon, after the three of us attempted to make a dent in their delicious condo-sized bread pudding. If the weather's nice, sit outside and enjoy the splendors of the day, before you hit the rest of the Fallbrook art galleries and wonderful boutiques. read more

Met up with the girls this morning for a little girl time and a late breakfast. We were seated right away which was nice. They menu was small but interesting, their prices were pretty good. We all ordered mimosas, $4, not bad. I got the Stuffed French Toast with Lemon curd for $6.75, not too bad. It was great! I am not a sweets in the morning person, so I have no idea what possessed me to order this dish but I'm glad I did. I think the lemon curd sold me.. :) One of my friends ordered the Italian omelet which looked great! Our server was good and attentive but the gal that was helping him with the drinks was a little scattered. We asked her for coffee and she never brought it, the server did... Over all, good experience and I look forward to going again....for lunch! read more

After Yelping Fallbrook for good places to eat before a concert, this is restaurant I chose for lunch as we wanted to eat light. I am happy with this choice because: my cobb salad was fresh and delicious with homemade vinegarette dressing; my husband's eggs benedict looked very good also; coffee was fresh and good; service was great; our waitress asked about what we needed before we had to ask'; the atmosphere or ambiance of the cafe is great; the noise level is low; our service was quick; and we were able to make it to our concert on time. I appreciate the other reviewers who gave me good information so we could enjoy our meal and have good memories and want to come back. read more

We have been here two times now since moving to Bonsall. The first time was for breakfast. Absolutely Fantastic! I watched all the food passing by me when I was reading the menu. Everything looked so great that I didn't know what to order. I ordered an omlette & it was sensational! Tonight we went there for dinner on our anniversary. It was awesome! I just had to post this time. My husband had the prime rib - cooked to perfection, garlic mashed potatoes - to die for, everything cooked perfectly. Soooo good. I had the ribs & I couldn't believe how many of these tasty, meaty ribs were on my plate! Meals were so reasonably priced & came with soup or salad, hot sourdough bread, choice of garlic mashed potatoes, baked potatoes, rice pilaf, & so many other choices I can't even remember. Also came with perfectly seasoned & cooked veggies. By the way, I'm not sure yet how they cook so healthy, yet it tastes like the best food you've ever eaten! I love the owner, who gives you just the right amount of attention, the wait staff, who are attentive, quick & everything comes out as ordered. I love the ambience. It's a charming cute cafe that looks like an elegant restaurant. Clean, beautifully decorated inside & out. Outside has lush plants, waterfall, garden tropical paradise! There's plenty of parking in their own lot in front and back. I have been telling all my friends about this restaurant. We will certainly be going back many times for many years to come. A MUST FREQUENT PLACE that makes you feel so welcome & treats you like family... read more

So good! Had the garden center cafe pasta and my parents had the 2 for $45 dinner deal, soooo good had steaks, seafood, chicken but only 1 Vegetarian option for dinner (1 salad & 1 pasta) other than that really great, good customer service, definitely worth the price and I don't say that much! Also had the pumpkin pecan praline cheesecake. Amazing! Great atmosphere, cozy and relaxing. read more

See all

One of my favorite restaurants, my friends and I go there for lunch frequently. Their food is really good, especially the turkey tortilla soup which unfortunately is only available during the day M-F. The berry salad is expensive but very good. I can't give it 5 stars, because the owner is a bit of a pill. He has been very rude to me on occasion. But as long as he isn't there, it's a very enjoyable place to eat! read more

Nice local place. Good food, reasonable prices. read more

Garden Center Cafe - New American Near Me - Fallbrook, California

See all

This place is very intimate and the food wonderfull. Myself and my girlfriend Cathy enjoyed a very tasty dinner. We enjoyed it so much we had to complement the staff. The general manager Clay was very welcoming and kind. The staff was caring and very friendly. The food was exceptional. I recommend this cafe to anyone who enjoys wonderful food at exceptional prices. I can't say enough about this place. Thank you Clay for being a wonderful host and your staff for an excellent dining experience. read more

Garden Center Cafe - Awesome - New American Near Me - Fallbrook, California

See all

Great atmosphere -eating inside a greenhouse. The lunch special: Chicken Cremini Crepes with a creamy Poblano Chili sauce. Served with Garden Center Salad (mixed greens, bacon feta cheese, golden raisins, pine nuts with Sweet Onion Vinaigrette). Just the right portions. read more

Garden Center Cafe - Chicken Cremini Mushroom Crepes with a creamy Poblano Chile sauce. Serve with Garden Center Salad. - New American Near Me - Fallbrook, California

All my neighbors rave about the Garden Center Cafe. I went during the week and sat in their beautiful patio. Unfortunately, I would give the food a 3 Star. Nice but nothing special; kind of an Mimi Cafe level. I had the Pastrami and was not impressed with size nor the pastrami. Having said this, I went again on the weekend and was very pleased and will now give them a 4 star (albeit still only on weekends). The turn around is partly due to our waiter Steve (we knew him from another restaurant where he always served me a Margarita without me even asking LOL). But also many items are only available on the weekends. I had the Country Fried Steak. It is the best in Fallbrook - the gravy was very impressive and obviously home made (and not overly thickened with flour). Bacon drippings must have been used to get that rich savory flavor. My wife had a big salad that was loaded. My son got the brunch. 3 Star during week and 4 Star on weekend. read more

My sister and I went to the Garden Center Cafe for the final time. We ordered lunch after a 10 minutes wait. During this wait, the owner was standing less than 10 feet away, noticing that we were not being helped, but, was oblivious. Before we got our food, my sister asked for another cup of coffee. A pudgy blonde waitress, said "yes" with such an annoyed look. She never brought the coffee. Finally, after about 40 minutes we were served our lunch. It was good. Then, we waited another 30 minutes, all the time staring at the owner who remained oblivious to us even though he was standing right in front of us. I finally got up, found the waiter and asked for our check. He ultimately brought it. I think the owner has a very bad attitude for a guy who owns a restaurant. He surely did not pay attention to the customers at all. Furthermore, the way the restaurant is arranged, you can hear lots of different conversations....annoying. I hope the owner smartens up and is more attentive to his customers. Phyllis Molloff read more