What a great lunch! Dinning outside was perfect our waitress had no problem handling the 8 of us all arriving at different times. Her assistant Sophia was easy going a very witty, she could read our table perfectly. The food was spot on and a perfect variety of choices for our group. I know our lunch bunch will be back very soon. Thanks! read more

CMe for brunch with a friend who was visiting and had a great breakfast. Awesome view of planes taking off. read more

Gillespie Field Cafe - Breakfast & Brunch Near Me - El Cajon, California

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Environment; awesome food; super great especially when your needing just a hearty portion of just all around good American food. They also have my favorite beer pizza port blonde ale AKA California honey. So good! The server was spot on she Ben asked what drink we had cause she could tell the syrup was out and fixed our drink without us asking. Which I was gonna do but she beat me to it! Great job. read more

Good food and great service. Something different with great views. Never had a bad breakfast there.

We have been going there for 9 years now, and the food is great, but the service is pathetic! We came at opening time, but the waitress was late for work. Another waiter who was working the outside tables could see that we were upset with no service, so he was kind enough to bring us coffee. After 15 minutes of our waitress not acknowledging our presence, we left, never to return again. No one ever said, Good Morning, or welcome, or kiss my rear. It takes time, money, good service over the years to build a good reputation, and one bad employee can ruin it. The food is really good, so the owner hired a great chef. read more

I enjoyed a really nice breakfast at this cafe located at the main terminal at Gillespie Field on the east end. I had the veggie scramble with rye toast and country breakfast potatoes for $11 and some change. It was a very good scramble at came with a lot of good vegetables including mushrooms, spinach, tomatoes, onions, peppers, and some cheese. All the ingredients were fresh and tasted great. I really liked the light fluffiness of the eggs. The country potatoes were very well made. The had a good crisp texture and that tender soft center. They had a very good seasoning and you can order them "O'brien" style which adds onions and peppers to the mix. They use good quality toast as the rye was excellent. I would suggest they offer the butter on the side so that patrons can manage the amount spread onto the toast. The young lady who served me was great. She was totally friendly and had a good sense of humor. The cafe offers inside and outside patio. The patio overlooks the runway which is pretty cool. read more

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First time here and it was absolutely AMAZING! French toast is beyond, home fries ordered with peppers and onions, homemade salsa! The club looked amazing too so basically it's a yes for me read more

Breakfast sandwiches are amazing!!! The waiters are very welcoming and the food is definitely worth the wait! Can't wait to go back

Nice little hidden gem. Love the food and service. Country fried steak and eggs is awesome here. read more

Gillespie Field Cafe - Remodel looks great - Breakfast & Brunch Near Me - El Cajon, California

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We love this cafe! And our 4 year old loves watching the planes taking off and landing! They even give out toy planes and cars for kids to play with at the table. Food is delish, reasonably priced, and served quickly. Love the French Toast, veggie omelette, pastrami sandwich, and Eggs Benedict with turkey. Coffee is strong and hot. Friendly, smiling staff. The outdoor view is spectacular. read more

Great place for quick breakfast and kids love it!!! Staff is helpful and food is perfect. Great to support locally owned businesses and families like this. read more

Antonelli's was closed for all three days of Memorial Day weekend. So, we decided to go somewhere that had good sandwiches and during our drive we came across Gillespie Airfield and remembered how others talked up their cafe. Wow!!!! The food was top notch, the view of the planes coming and going and the weather was epic. The best part of our experience was Brice the waitress/server was so down to earth, caring and respectful. We will definitely come back and try their other's on the menu. Thank you Gillespie Airfield Cafe. read more

Peter and Roxanne run a tight ship. The outdoor dining is fun to watch airplanes coming and going. The wait service is great and welcoming. Food is consistently great. Just our lil secret! read more

Visited this restaurant early on a Saturday morning. We were seated immediately and service was above reproach. The meals were prepared and served excellently. A tasty way to start any day! Will return. read more

Great little cafe and fun to watch the planes. Excellent breakfast and great, cheerful customer service. Highly recommend! read more

This was such a cute restaurant serving up great tasting and quality food. We brought our San Diego native friends here on Memorial Day since one of their favorite places was closed. They had never been to Gillespie field Cafe! They fell in love and already plan to bring others here! It was so fun to be outside and see the planes and jets landing and taking off. The service was excellent. Everybody (all 6 of us) loved their food. Here's what we got: The Bomber with hashbrowns- MUST TRY! It's chopped up country fried steak in an omelet and it's amazing! Hash browns were cooked perfectly! French toast. Simple and Delicious. I prefer to put boysenberry jam on mine which they had plenty of at the table. The California Club with fries. The California Omelet with fries. Onion rings--huge puppies fried to perfection! Fish and Chips. Again--So good! Pastrami sandwich with a side salad. This was freshly made with strips of pastrami and melted cheese. We will definitely return! read more

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Hands down, our family's favorite place in East County. Kids and adults love watching the planes take off, land, and sometimes do formations & tricks. The food is solid American food and solid prices. This place is legit. Very clean. Most of it is outside, which I expected a film of dirt, but there wasn't any. They wipe the tables and chairs really well. The staff is amazing. The last time we came, we got to watch the civil air patrol take kids up to fly for the first time. It was such a cool experience to be a part of. read more

Gillespie Field Cafe - Planes practicing formations - Breakfast & Brunch Near Me - El Cajon, California

This spot is such a cute little hidden gem for brunch in El Cajon! We sat outside with our pup and they made the area look really nice with the fans, umbrellas and turf. It was great service, a cool view seeing all of the planes flying around, and good food! They had a lot larger of a menu than what I was expecting and overall the food was pretty good - there were a few small things like some of the house potato's were a bit inconsistent in the crispiness and the egg was a bit undercooked, but I think everything else made up for it. It was so cozy and the staff were all super sweet, and very accommodating to our pup! This may be my new brunch spot whenever I'm out this way. read more

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What can I say. The staff is friendly and you get no frills, just downright good food. I always leave here full and I feel like I got my money's worth. It's average to inexpensive and the portions are great. There is indoor and outdoor seating. You can bring behaved dogs but you have to sit outside. It's awesome watching the planes drive by less than ten feet from where you're sitting. I'd definitely recommend this place. read more

Gillespie Field Cafe - Breakfast & Brunch Near Me - El Cajon, California

Came here for breakfast, everyone was so nice and staff was great. I had hoped that the food was good because of the 5 stars but when I ordered bacon eggs Benedict and extra crispy hash-browns it was not to par. First the hollandaise sauce did not taste at all like hollandaise sauce. I don't know if it was the bacon grease seeped in the bread or if it was the sauce. The hash browns were undercooked and not even at least descent. Sorry I really wanted to see if this place was good but it is not the place for me. Again staff is great. If you like looking at planes this place is really cool though. Really casual ambiance. read more

Horrible cooks. Grits weren't cooked and I sent them back, and they just replaced them with the same uncooked batch, a small cup cost $5. They tried to say this is how this type of grit is: I'm from Texas, I know grits. The eggs over easy still had whites uncooked. They really should have a quality control to check over what's being sent out. I had two breakfasts and two waters and I went out spending $45 with tip for a horrible breakfast. read more

I always get the Chicken Fried Steak and Eggs and it is one of my favorite Chicken Fried Steaks in San Diego! The breading and gravy have good flavor. The staff are attentive and the food usually comes out pretty quick. I love sitting on the patio and watching the planes fly in and out of the airport, definitely a fun experience! read more

I was pleasantly surprised with this airport cafe that's situated on the edge of the airport. What a nice place to grab breakfast, brunch, or lunch! You can eat on their outdoor patio, or inside (but there isn't quite the number of tables or seats as there are outside). The menu has a pretty good selection and should have something to please just about any hungry patron. I can only speak to what I ordered this morning, which was a Greek omelette, with hash browns, and a buttermilk biscuit. The prices were reasonable, food was served hot and without delay, dining area was clean, and our server "Lisa" was very friendly and attentive (kept our coffee mugs & water glasses topped off, and bussed our plates and silverware when we were done). All in all, a much more pleasant breakfast meal than Denny's and you get to watch cool planes take off and land. I'll back whenever I'm nearby and want to grab a morning bite... read more

Gillespie Field Cafe - Saw this aerial marriage proposal message during brunch. What a shame if the girlfriend missed seeing this in the sky. - Breakfast & Brunch Near Me - El Cajon, California

I hate leaving bad reviews; however, I feel obligated in hopes others don't have to experience what we did... We visited the diner from approximately 0930-1030 on Sunday 23OCT22 and ate indoors. Cons: - Perhaps some of the worst tasting and unhealthy food we have ever ate in our lives? - It took approximately 30-40 minutes to get a server to get our food to us. - The music was loud, and everyone was trying to talk over it, which made it difficult to hear each other. - The food was overpriced and not at all deserving of the prices we paid. Pros: If you love aviation like we do, and enjoy being around fellow aviators...then you can 'overlook' all that this diner lacks and just enjoy being at a general aviation airport surrounded by good people who love to fly. read more

I didn't have the highest of hopes, but I was wrong! Food is really good, fresh and fast! Been here twice and haven't been disappointed! read more

Gillespie Field Cafe - BLAT - Breakfast & Brunch Near Me - El Cajon, California

Cool breakfast spot. Gotta switch it up, you know. Amazing view of runway. Service is good. Enjoyed experience. I'll definitely be back. Hmmm...is it breakfast time yet? I am hungry. Maybe let the Wife take me here this morning. See you there. read more

Breakfast was delicious here!! The staff was friendly and attentive despite how busy they were. The food coming out of the kitchen really looked appetizing and my omelette was amazing! Try them out, you won't be disappointed! read more

Just a nice relaxing place to eat. I love sitting outside to watch the planes while I eat. Everything has been so tasty from there.

This place is amazing. I love going there because the people are very nice, the food is delicious, and the atmosphere is amazing. Many aviation enthusiasts will come and watch the many aircraft takeoff and land including me. Keep up the amazing work! read more

I ordered for the first time here after seeing it on DoorDash. I'm usually hesitant to order delivery on these apps because sometimes restaurants make mistakes. I was not disappointed! I definitely recommend them. The order was so carefully packed with a tamper proof sticker on the bag and a very nice presentation. Not to mention, the food was delicious! I was only able to take a picture of my food because hubby dug in before I could. I'm sure the food would be even more delicious eating there. If anyone is looking for a nice cafe, this is a great spot! read more

Gillespie Field Cafe - Philly cheesesteak and onion rings - Breakfast & Brunch Near Me - El Cajon, California

Stopped in today to this location. There was a group of police there having breakfast so you know if a local favorite. It's located at the small airport. I had the breakfast special and my husband the steak and eggs. Everything was great and the service was quick and friendly. read more

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We went to check out Gillespie Field Cafe on a Saturday morning. The place is pretty non-descript; tucked away in a small plaza in front of the small little airport. We were seated right away. The workers there were very friendly. I ordered the eggs benedict and it was nothing short of amazing. The hollandaise sauce was perfect and the potatoes were excellent. The prices were very, very reasonable as well. The outside seating was nicely decorated and it was airy and quiet; a great place to just come and have a relaxing breakfast on a weekend. Nice to watch the airplanes come and go as well. Definitely added to my weekly rotation of breakfast places. I would recommend! read more

We came here recently for the first time. Food was delicious! Forget about flavorless eggs and potatoes for breakfast! Everything was delicious and fresh. Coffee was abundant, ladies came to check on us regularly. Best of all my son loved seeing the airplanes in the field! Great place to bring kids, even a cranky toddler. No one batted an eye as it was loud outdoors in the first place! read more

Fun place right on the airport property. People can land, park outside the gate and come in. Food was very good and everyone was friendly. read more

Gillespie Field Cafe - Outside patio. - Breakfast & Brunch Near Me - El Cajon, California

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It was highly recommended to us since my husband is a breakfast eater. It's mid. Nothing really special. I'm giving it a 3 star because the service was good. Food wise , it's a blah to us. read more

It took me a long time to get here after I first found out this place existed but we've now been coming here for 3 or 4 years I think and have always enjoyed it. We've often gotten the breakfast and it's always wonderful no matter what we get. We've also gotten sandwiches on occasion. I think today was the first time I ordered the soup and I couldn't have been happier. The split pea soup was about as homemade as could be and really hit the spot. I certainly couldn't have made it better myself and I'm a pretty good soup maker. The half BLT was top quality and chock full of good quality bacon. Some of the prices initially seemed kind of high but when you take into consideration the great view of the planes taking off and landing plus the good quality food they consistently serve then it is well worth the price. They are only open for breakfast and lunch and the prices range from $8-9 up to $16 for steak and eggs. The Waitresses have always been nice and the place always seems quite clean. Today's visit had the added excitement of a power outage, something the waitress said never happens. It may have been caused by the gusty winds today and only lasted about 15 minutes fortunately. This is a place we will definitely be back to. If you're thinking about coming here, do it. And bring the kids because they'll have a great time watching the planes too! read more

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What an adorable old school diner with a patio, and the patio has a view of the airport. You can sit here and watch planes, helicopters come and go. We sat outside so that my grandson who is 15 months could watch the planes. He was so entertained he never become cranky. The service is awesome. Our server even saved us from the "evil" spider trying to take over our table. It literally was building a web over our water glasses as we watched.. The food is good ole comfort food. All the classics are there, corned beef hash, eggs benedict, etc. I ordered the chicken fried steak and it was delicious. Eggs cooked exactly as I wanted. My daughter ordered one of their breakfast burritos, she loved hers too. Little guy had a kids menu with pancakes and scrambled egg, he ate all of his food and had some of ours. It's a little tricky to find, so look for the air traffic control tower and it's just to the left of it right next to the tarmac. read more

Gillespie Field Cafe - Breakfast & Brunch Near Me - El Cajon, California

First takes- staff was warm and incredibly friendly. Then came the food. This is not a greasy spoon but has all the menu items you could pick from any day of the week. The food was delicious. The views, perfect. But wow - the staff was on top of everything. This will be my family of 6's new goto. read more

Seriously? A special that's a country biscuits and gravy type dish? It was pretty flippin epic and I joined the clean plate club. Place is practically right on the runways at SEE and watching the aircraft was pretty fun. Outside venue with some solid java and OUTSTANDING service. Reasonably priced and I'll be back. read more

First time visiting today, but it won't be the last. Found them by searching for breakfast places that were open for outdoor dining. What a gem! The friendly service, portion sizes and quality of the food earned 5 stars from us! Lots of outside seating on the fenced in, covered patio patio. Fun to watch the planes come and go, great place for families with kids. Great find in East County! read more