Hillcrest has a ton of brunch options... many of them are loud, crowded, and make you feel rushed. Not this place. Gooseberries is a place where you can just exist --- spend quality time with your friend while you enjoy delicious freshly cooked bread and sip on tea or coffee. The vibes are right and the food is fresh.. dont sleep on this place! read more

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Extremely disappointing and uncomfortable experience We were visiting San Diego with our family and unfortunately had an extremely uncomfortable experience at Gooseberries Cafe. We arrived about three minutes before opening and completely understood when we were asked to wait outside until they opened. There was absolutely no issue with that. However, once they opened the door, the interaction immediately became uncomfortable. My husband, my son, and I were all perfectly happy to order things that were already on their menu. The only thing I was trying to figure out was a breakfast option for my daughter, who wanted an omelet. We simply asked whether they had eggs and whether an omelet could be made. We were told they don't make omelets and that this is not a "regular diner-style breakfast." Again, I completely understand that a restaurant has its own menu and style. The issue was the way this was communicated to us. The owner repeatedly told us that this was not that kind of restaurant and that if we wanted a regular breakfast, we could leave and go to other restaurants. She kept suggesting that we go somewhere else. It wasn't a polite explanation of the menu--it felt like she was trying to get us out of the restaurant. What made it particularly uncomfortable were her expressions and body language. She repeatedly made faces that conveyed obvious frustration and irritation whenever we tried to ask a question or figure out what my daughter could eat. Her expressions were dismissive and visibly annoyed, and it felt like our presence itself was bothering her. Rather than making us feel welcome, she gave us the very strong impression that she wanted us to leave as quickly as possible. My daughter wasn't asking for anything unreasonable. They had eggs on the menu, including fried and boiled eggs, and I was simply trying to see if there was a way to make breakfast work for her. Instead, we were repeatedly told, essentially, that we could leave if we wanted. The interaction became so uncomfortable that I finally said, "Okay, let's go." At that point, the owner put both hands on her head and started banging/holding her head in visible frustration. I have honestly never experienced anything like that from someone serving customers. Seeing an adult react that way simply because a child was asking about breakfast was shocking and incredibly upsetting. I left feeling humiliated and unwelcome. More importantly, it hurt to see my daughter treated this way. We were visiting San Diego as a family and were looking forward to trying this cafe. Instead, we walked out feeling like we had done something wrong simply by asking questions about the food. I cannot know what was in the owner's mind, so I won't claim to know her intentions. But the way we were treated felt discriminatory, hostile, and deeply unwelcoming, and the repeated facial expressions, dismissive tone, and body language made the experience even worse. A restaurant is absolutely entitled to have its own menu and to say no to special requests. But there is no reason to make a family feel unwanted or uncomfortable for asking. There are respectful ways to say, "We don't make omelets," without repeatedly telling customers to leave. This was one of the most unpleasant dining experiences we've had, and unfortunately it left a very negative impression of what should have been a nice family morning in San Diego before taking my kids to the zoo. read more

Great people serving great food! The team at Gooseberries Kafe serves scratch-made breakfast, lunch and baked goods in a community-focused cafe. While it's surrounded by a number of well-known restaurants, this place offers an experience that's unique and satisfying all-around. My wife and I spent a weekend at the hotel located above Gooseberries. Partially due to convenience, we opted to head downstairs for breakfast and received a warm welcome from the owner. We opted for espresso and the French Toast which raised a high bar for any nearby breakfast joints! It's made from their house charcoal bread and complimented with a tangy gooseberry jam and maple syrup. We were so impressed by breakfast that we returned for lunch and shared avocado toast, a breakfast biscuit and roasted vegetables. With every bite we could tell that a lot of care, dedication and precision went into preparing our meal. It was very much appreciated! We even took some of the charcoal bread home for the following week. I'm happy to give Gooseberries my full endorsement and I hope others can enjoy it as much as we did. read more

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I found this small cafe from an Instagram post about their favorite brunch/cafe spots. The cafe is attached to a small hotel and although it is outside, it has a roof covering so you can enjoy food year round. I ordered the French toast with an egg as well as hot chocolate. I was told they make their own chocolate sauce to add to the drink which tasted great! Prior to leaving, I was curious to what a gooseberry was and the owners (I think husband and wife) were so happy to explain what they taste like and where they are grown locally. I ended up ordering a blueberry-gooseberry muffin that was moist and had a cinnamon crumble to it! read more

Gooseberries Kafe - Breakfast & Brunch Near Me - San Diego, California

I love Lee and Melissa. This place is the highlight of our week, and our two kids have grown up here. Gooseberries has the best açaí bowl in San Diego, and the Raf is my favorite coffee drink of all time. You won't find another place like this with an incredible atmosphere, loyal regulars, and owners who are fully invested in the community and creating delicious scratch food. read more

A delightful little cafe in San Diego. We came here the day after Halloween for a delicious and lovely experience. Cruisy outdoor venue with coverage. Staff are super friendly and gifted us some freshly baked bread. Parking is street parking and plentiful. Love the vibes here. Highly recommend to folks living in SD or when visiting. read more

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This cafe is located underneath the hotel that we happened to stay at in San Diego. So we wanted to come and try it. We arrived a bit after it opened and I ordered the French toast and the breakfast plate for my husband and for drinks my husband had a flat white and I had a vanilla latte. This place is has a lot of outdoor seating . My French toast was very different than other French toast. Not your normal heavy and thick bread, it was about 6 pieces of small bread pieces and it was not oily and it came with a side of gooseberry jam and some nutty save and syrup. It was so delicious. My husband also enjoyed his breakfast that was eggs, some small biscuit and some apple chicken sausage. Our drinks were also very good and I loved the mugs that they were served in. Overall a great place for breakfast . And they are very friendly too. If we are ever on this area we will be back. read more

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We came here for breakfast and lunch on the same day because we were so blown away by the food and service! We stayed at the hotel which adjoins this restaurant so it worked perfectly for us. For breakfast we split the French toast - their homemade vegan charcoal bread is so delicious and made by one of the owners. I also had a scrambled egg which was cooked to perfection. Then we came back for lunch and I had the breakfast sandwich which features a fresh biscuit covered in melted cheddar cheese and then a fried egg, arugula and tomato - I added avocado which I highly recommend doing. My husband got the avo toast which he also loved. The vibe is laid back and a great place to hang. 10/10 recommend! read more

Gooseberries Kafe - Breakfast sandwich - Breakfast & Brunch Near Me - San Diego, California

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Food was delicious. Everything is made in house from the bread, pastries, jams, salsa and more. I had the breakfast plate and matcha latte with lavender (made in house) and it was perfect. Friendly staff, nice ambient jazz music, cozy seating areas. I'd definitely come back. Leaving with some pastries that I can't wait to try later. read more

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Great food great atmosphere, the food came out fast. Avocado toast was to die for! Def coming back when I'm in San Diego! read more

Gooseberries Kafe - Avocado toast with one over easy egg, Açai bowls !yummm - Breakfast & Brunch Near Me - San Diego, California

Super cute coffee spot in a parking structure under some apartments. If you blink you will miss it! It is chilly so dress warm. The staff greeted us upon arriving and answered all our questions and gave recommendations. The coffee was tasty and the food was delicious. I definitely recommend trying this place if you are in the area! read more

Gooseberries Kafe - Breakfast & Brunch Near Me - San Diego, California

Just review is for two visits combined when I stayed at the hotel which houses this cafe. The first time they were 5 star. Extremely nice & everything I ordered was great. I even told a friend who lives in Hillcrest I need to bring you to this place. The 2nd time the food was served & great as well. Here's where it the rating drops. I checked out. Stopped at the cafe, ordered, ate. I had some time to kill before I went to OC. So I thought I would do some computer work done in the beautiful sun. While I sat & did my computer work I sipped on water. Another waitress/cashier person could be heard in the distance complaining about me sitting there working & drinking water. This was most likely what she assumed as she wasn't there when I ordered everything earlier. She made me feel so uncomfortable that I didn't finish my work & left. read more

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Excellent coffee here. It is a pity I went when they were almost closing as I enjoyed the ambiance and would have loved to see more people. I was the only customer at almost 2pm which is when they close and still I received an excellent service by the girl working there. I like the comfort of the tall chairs, the flowers they get from the plant shop across the street, the presentation of the pastries and the whole design. Will be back when in Hillcrest. Very quaint. read more

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I love this place! They make their own baked goods. The avocado toast is amazing. Egg sandwich is amazing. Also the owners are amazing. Food is made with love. read more

We stopped in on a weekday and enjoyed lunch at this small, outdoor cafe. I had the bread with butter and gooseberry jam, grilled vegetables with chicken-apple sausage and the butterfly lemonade. It was a light, fresh and healthy meal. The portions were more than adequate and I took leftovers home. I would be interested in returning to try more of their menu. The owner was friendly and welcoming. Our server could have been more polite. She didn't come across as a happy employee or perhaps was having a bad day. read more

Gooseberries Kafe - Butterfly lemonade - Breakfast & Brunch Near Me - San Diego, California

Ok food. Stressful environment. Some folks are clearly not happy working there. I saw and heard some very rude exchanges with customers. I will never go back. read more

I miss this place so much. I started coming here when they first opened, and now I've moved away, but I still think about it. They have the best pickled vegetables ever, they're so addictive!! I wish I knew how to make them at home lol. The baked goods are also fabulous, using in season produce and not too sweet. They have vegan & GF options. I don't drink coffee so no input there, but my friend liked the drink she got. I had a sip and liked it, which is very rare for me lol. The hamburger is good and the avocado toast is really good too. Everything they do is very very high quality, and it is quite evident that they care deeply about what they do. The staff talks to you like you're a good pal. There's a guy with a huge beard here who is one of the owners, and he is so freaking sweet. I love the open air feel of the cafe. It's very chill and a nice place to relax. I only ate in here a couple of times and mostly got my stuff to go since I lived nearby. I wish Gooseberries Kafe all the success in the world, and hope to visit when I come visit SD :) read more

This place has been on my list for a while now and I'm glad I finally stopped in! If you can't find street parking-there is a parking lot directly next door. It has nice outside patio seating. The staff is all so sweet and friendly and give excellent suggestions (like getting the crispy prosciutto-trust me just do it, you'll thank me later). Definitely recommend the rolls because you absolutely MUST try the gooseberry jam! Also, the basil vinaigrette on the pasta salad is *chef's kiss* If you're looking for a nice little spot to get brekkies, this is the one for you! read more

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I had yet again their wonderful monkey bread with creamy icing heated up. Wonderful! delicious! The owners are the same. Friendly, helpful, and produce great things to eat. Mike read more

Delicious food, phenomenal coffee, and very nice and attentive workers! I will be back! read more

Gooseberries Kafe - Biscuits and gravy! - Breakfast & Brunch Near Me - San Diego, California

Thanks fellow yelpers! You gave this place great reviews and you did not disappoint! I had the biscuit breakfast sandwich and it was wonderful. The biscuits are very thick and that makes this a shareable in my world. My partner had the biscuits and gravy with the ground sausage. Definitely not to be missed, but again, huge portions, we could have shared. The location is outdoor and very comfortable. The owner is also a chef, excellent! Mostly locals it looked like, very chill atmosphere. read more

Gooseberries Kafe - Cafe mocha made in house - Breakfast & Brunch Near Me - San Diego, California

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this might be my favorite brunch spot i have ever had. every breakfast item we got was absolutely delicious and even the pastries were fire. wish i lived closer cause i would totally be back read more

Absolutely loveeeeee this place!! The owners Lee and Melissa are just wholesome, down to earth and welcoming people. And the food is sooo good! They use the best quality foods with organic, fresh and farm to table type of ingredients and foods. I always order the Breakfast Plate and sub for their housemade biscuit. The biscuit is amazing! Along with their homemade Gooseberry jam... doesn't get better than that! Give them a shot and support a small business, you won't be disappointed. read more

Gooseberries Kafe - The Breakfast Plate, sub for their housemade biscuit biscuit and a house coffee (with free refills) - Breakfast & Brunch Near Me - San Diego, California

Everything from scratch! We really loved their freshly made baked goods (scones, muffins, bread basket), all their homemade jams, their signature coffee - The RAF, the French toast, the soup of the day (borscht), & great quality eggs. Owners were friendly and accommodating to the little ones in our party. We came on Sunday morning so parking was a breeze. Otherwise, it could potentially be more difficult to find a spot. The interior of the restaurant was modern but quite comfy. read more

What a wonderful spot! They have a from scratch kitchen and you can taste the love put into the food. This is an outdoor dining only spot, so it's perfect to bring your dogs. They also have homemade dog treats for $1. To top it off, the staff are wonderful! Will definitely be back. read more

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We love Lee and Melissa. Their menu is not only delicious but feels good. I had their burger today and feeling great hours after that delicious meal. The baked goods are incredible. Their lavender fog is one of my favorite caffeinated drinks. The atmosphere is meditative. read more

Spend the morning or afternoon at Gooseberries and you will transcend to a heavenly state. Everything hits. The handcrafted food, music, the gentle breeze flowing through the open concept, and the great humans who run the establishment. Nirvana all around. Special recs: The burger, the raf, any pastry, striking up a conversation with Lee or Melissa. read more

Great food, great location, great service and with gluten free options! I would eat here again.

We were visiting San Diego and searching for a cafe for our Easter breakfast, that was exceptional without being loud or hectic. This place delivered on every level. The atmosphere is genuinely pleasant and inviting, the food is exquisite, and the service is attentive without being intrusive. The ambiance strikes exactly the right note. If I lived nearby, I'd be a regular without question -- a true gem of a find.​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​ read more

Gooseberries Kafe - Breakfast & Brunch Near Me - San Diego, California

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Cute casual atmosphere. Food was okay as it didn't come out very hot, seemed like the eggs sat out for awhile before they brought it out. Owner was odd- we watched her speak so kindly to the "regulars" but was rude to our family who just popped in while in town for the weekend. A great concept but wouldn't return or recommend to others. read more

WOW WOW WOW. An absolute must try cafe. My girlfriends and I all got different menu items. The açaí bowl was to DIE for. I opted to add their homemade nut butter and holy cow. So yummy. Highly recommend. I wasn't the biggest fan of the lavender latte I got, but the food made up for it. Will definitely be coming back. Their ingredients are made in house and can be bought separately! Such as their nut butter! read more

Gooseberries Kafe - Açaí bowl - Breakfast & Brunch Near Me - San Diego, California

High-quality ingredients, prepared well, with a staff so friendly that I felt compelled to post this review. Go. You won't regret it.

Was really excited for this place! Saw a lot of good things about this and, upon arriving, really liked the look of this cafe. It had a lot of chairs for everybody and this half open air half inside layout. It also had a really nice records shop in it. The food was pretty good. I loved the bread they had in the sandwiches and the deli sandwich was great. Always loved prosciutto and the selection of veggies went well with everything. The eggs and biscuit was ok, but nothing really stood out except the bread. As for the chai, it wasn't the best chai I've had, but it was still good! read more

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I WILL be coming back here. But for the time being this is a 3 star (should have honestly been a 2)... Why? When we tried to order food at 10 am on a Saturday the hostess told us that it could be 1 hour to 1.5 hours until we got our food... this seems crazy to us, as the breakfast sandwhich seemed very simple. We diverted and just got coffee here. And it was really good! Although the latte only had 1 shot of espresso... so we had to add a second. Also there were pastries that you could get asap. So do keep that in mind! Coffee and pastries are perfect for this spot. Great outdoor area where you can bring your dog! Like I said! I'll be back! I just don't know what was going on with the kitchen today. read more

Gooseberries Kafe - Latte - Breakfast & Brunch Near Me - San Diego, California

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Had the best experience at Gooseberries Kafe today! First of all, the service was outstanding! The owners are so friendly & welcoming & considerate. All of the food was absolutely delicious! They are dog friendly (the owner on his own brought over a water bowl for my dog). They have inside & outside seating & lovely music in the background. I will definitely be back! read more

Oh my, what a nice ambiance, the food was spectacular and the service was TOP NOTCH!! I always order my eggs over medium and they always come with a runny yolk. Thank YOU for preparing my eggs perfectly!! ALL OF THE PEOPLE WERE SUPER NICE & GRACIOUS! I will be back for more! read more

Gooseberries Kafe - Avocado Toast, Chicken Apple Sausage, Eggs over Medium (AND perfectly prepared!!) and my favorite was the Pickled Veggies! - Breakfast & Brunch Near Me - San Diego, California

What a great lil find for a breakfast spot. Staff were great, which made the food taste even better. You could tell everything was cooked w/ love. What my family ordered... 2 iced cold brews 10/10 2 chai lattes 1 hot choc 1bread basket w/ their gooseberry jam 1 soup of the day 2 avocado toasts w / egg, one w/ prosciuto, the other w/ sausage 3 burgers w cheese Pros...Food 10/10 Con... hard to find seating read more

Gooseberries Kafe - Avocado toast w/ over medium egg and crispy proscuito - Breakfast & Brunch Near Me - San Diego, California

gooseberries in Hillcrest his hands down the best breakfast in town! Don't let the modest exterior or the less and fancy neighborhood fool you. This hidden gem serves up some of the freshest, most lovingly, prepared food in all of San Diego. The husband and wife team create everything from scratch using only the finest ingredients. You can truly taste the care and passion in every bite. My personal favorite is the avocado toast, and my husband swears by the homemade coffee cake, warm, crumbly, and absolutely divine. The baked goods are unmatched - light flavorful, and clearly made with pride, Gooseberries is a reminder that you should never judge a book by its cover because what's inside here is something special -a must visit for anyone who loves quality, comfort, and heart in their breakfast read more

Gooseberries Kafe - Best breakfast in town! #hillcrest #Fantastic ingredient. - Breakfast & Brunch Near Me - San Diego, California

First time here, I just looked up a local spot since I was just in town for a day and this place was amazing! The egg plate with crispy prosciutto was delicious! I'm definitely saving this place and coming back when I'm in town! read more

Gooseberries Kafe - Egg plate with crispy prosciutto, iced coffee - Breakfast & Brunch Near Me - San Diego, California

I just found my new favorite spot. I went here with some friends to celebrate birthdays, including my own. We left feeling absolutely in love with everything. The ambiance was so relaxing, with cute decor and a welcoming vibe. The staff were INCREDIBLE. We interacted with every staff member at some point (including I think the owner(s)?) and they were so helpful, patient, and kind. We tried a couple of items on the menu and it all tasted incredible. I had the lavender fog, the French toast, and their cinnamon swirl bread. All of it was amazing. But we were especially in love with their charcoal bread. So so delicious! On top of the excellent food and great service, they were so attentive and noticed that we were celebrating birthdays. So they surprised us with cookies that they lit candles on at the end of our meal!!!! We couldn't believe it and we're so touched. When I say we were SO happy and had a beautiful day thanks to the meals and staff here, I mean it earnestly. I am lucky to live close by and can't wait to support this business regularly! Affordable prices, everything is made in house, and the service is amazing. You couldn't ask for more. read more

Gooseberries Kafe - French toast - charcoal activated bread - Breakfast & Brunch Near Me - San Diego, California

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