The food took an hour, the boss was rude to her employees. our server was really sweet. the food was eh. I got the benedict and the english muffin was uncuttable. the potatoes were crunchy. overall just not great. read more

We were excited about trying this place as we were visiting. The reviews were very good. I will keep it basic: Good: really nice and comfortable feel, pastries were very solid, the coffee drinks, exceptionally strong. So/So: the food took close to 40 minutes from when we ordered and everything was good, but nothing stood out. They were fairly busy so I can understand a little late certainly not 40 minutes from when we waste our order. Bummer: I don't know if she is the owner, but the lady who is running the host stand with the dog was so visibly stressed, yelling and barking at the employees, and pacing around, which made clearly many people feel uncomfortable. I understand it's busy but her stress was so beyond that... not to mention her dog looked miserable walking around with her. Can't blame the dog really, especially since she was so mean to the other workers. We all have a bad day... hopefully her tomorrows will be better. read more

Came here for some brunch with some friends and was not disappointed. I've been by once or twice before and have never ventured to endure the wait times (or bothered with a reservation cause I occasionally don't plan well), and instead opted for the bakery, but this day, we took a chance. While the wait is long and the restaurant seating is tight in some areas, service itself is speedy and and friendly. Food here is pretty fantastic with typical flavor combinations. Atmosphere is sociable and bustling. Overall, a cute place to have brunch with some cakes and cookies to go. A pretty standard SD offering for brunch, but the baked goods are above average. read more

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Service is good and prompt. My pancakes were greasy and there were paper Christmas trees at the bottom of the pancakes,I asked what they were and server said they're putting these in on plates and top of coffee, and they're edible wax. I heard this place was good,it's not. read more

Decent brunch in a popping part of La Jolla with a pretty aesthetic and decent savory options. Without a reservation we waited 25 minutes for a table for 2 on a summer Sunday at 10:30am. Mimosas were good, the shakshuka was delicious (albeit a little too salty), and the new Geschmack Blintz was small and unfilling but tasty. I would not recommend the blintz unless you have a very small appetite or otherwise obsess over blintzes, and would certainly not recommend the extra assortment of sauces that I didn't even get close to touching. The decadence imagery was mostly well done but you have to know your limits, and yellow-gold painted steel cutlery crosses the tacky line. Otherwise a uniquely great layout and not overly packed. read more

The experience was so fun it was like a fairy village came alive and gave you amazing breakfast but in my opinion the best part was not the food or scenery but it was how the food matched the vibe so well. read more

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My girlfriend and I visited on a Friday afternoon and the wait was rather short! We ordered the Chilaquiles and the Naughty Skillet, both of which were fantastic, and the French toast which was subpar; the French Toast was crunchy and flaky in comparison to traditional recipes. Additionally, the cluttered floral decor make habitats for critters, and there was a huge spider in a corner of our booth! Furthermore, it might not be in their control, but it seems to me that the patio seating attracts an abundant of amount of flies, which was off putting. These factors, combined with the fact that when asked for limes with our food, the waiter claimed the restaurant had no limes and handed me lemons instead, when I clearly saw the table behind me had two wedges of lime with their food, which was quite ridiculous. So, I personally took myself to the bar where I asked for wedges of lime with my food and they promptly resolved this issue. Overall an okay/good experience, but this establishment will remain a one and done for us. read more

Very disappointed. First, maybe my rating wouldn't be so low for a less expensive place but here we are. I had the butter poached lobster Benedict. The lobster was fairly tasteless and hugely overcoooked. (the rest was very good but really the lobster was supposed to be the star here) On a weird note, the salt and pepper shakers: They load the salt shaker with something larger grained the kosher salt (not flake salt. Not sure what its called). Unfortunately, the shakers have tiny holes only big enough for table salt so no salt comes through. Like wise for the already ground pepper. I pointed this out and asked for table salt but they had none. I took the bottom off the shaker and seasoned by hand but those salt rocks pretty much bounced off. The service was excellent so there was that. read more

Mimosas are sooo goood. The service is great too. The ambiance is soo nice. Went here for Mother's Day and it was perfect.

First and foremost, the aesthetic is elite. I get it, it's in La Jolla, everywhere looks like this, but the value add comes from the fact that the food is also amazing. We had a simple meal, some Benedict's and French toast. Thinking back at it now I wish I remembered exactly which. No worries, we're definitely coming back. read more

Sugar and Scribe - Outdoor - Bakeries Near Me - La Jolla, California

Beautiful brunch restaurant in La Jolla. Although the place looks packed, the line actually moves rather fast due to the abundant indoor and outdoor seating they have. For a brunch restaurant, the menu was quite extensive with options for everybody, ranging from biscuits and gravy to Shakshuka. There is also an indoor bakery section where you can order take-out from. The mimosa flight was also a fun addition to our food (I personally loved the rose flavor!). Based on what I saw from other tables, there were also fun coffee beverages topped with colorful whipped cream and such. Our waiter was also incredibly helpful and nice enough to replace our mimosa after we accidentally spilled one. Definitely would swing by again for brunch! read more

Sugar and Scribe - Lobster benedict with black coffee and mimosa flight - Bakeries Near Me - La Jolla, California

What a cute find. The ambiance is cute with the bakery inside as well. I had a horchata latte, we had mimosas, and some of the favorite breakfast items. They're working on updating their menu as some items are not available and some of the food wasn't very hot when served but we all enjoyed the flavors and had a good experience. read more

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Love this cute place! Came with a few others and had a great time. The service was great. The food looks good and it tastes good too. Had the lemon curd pancake and unicorn topping, lobster Benedict was really yummy! I just wish we had one in Monterey county. I will come here every time I see my sisters. read more

Sugar and Scribe - Lobster Benedict - Bakeries Near Me - La Jolla, California

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Came here to have brunch with my mom before her appt. There was no wait. We were seated right away. The place is beautiful with lots of flowers everywhere. I ordered the chicken sandwich and my mom the corned beef hash. My sandwich was very good. It came with potatoes or salad. I got the potatoes and it was also very good. My mom's corned beef hash was even better. I will definitely come back here again. They did not disappoint. read more

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Beautiful ambiance - like walking into a tea room built for a princess. Women-owned, and it shows! The service was slow, but it was a Sunday morning and the place was packed so I'll be forgiving on that. I got the chilaquiles and they were perfectly spicy and flavorful. A go to spot for a girly pop brunch. I'll definitely be coming back, especially to try some of the deliciously looking bakery items. read more

Sugar and Scribe - Inside seating - Bakeries Near Me - La Jolla, California

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I am that annoying person who is rarely in a brunch mood. I have been let down time and time again by overhyped SD brunch chains like Snooze and Breakfast Republic. I used to enjoy The Cottage across the street, but the quality of the food has gone down drastically over the years. Thus, I typically stay home for breakfast and am satisfied with whatever I concoct. That being said, Sugar and Scribe served up a quality brunch that exceeded my expectations. There are a lot of sweet and savory offerings (many of them English/Scottish/British), which I appreciate. Pros: - Fast service despite us going at peak brunch time on a weekend - Attentive servers - The English fry-up (I think it's called an Irish Breakfast on the menu) was the greasy, meaty comfort food that I needed. It was also the first time I had ever tried a fry-up. I enjoyed the black pudding and streaky bacon the most and had a decent amount to take home. - My partner got the bourbon peach waffles, which were not too sweet and had a nice oat crisp to sprinkle over it Cons: - There isn't much seating inside or outside - There are some cringy millennial/ca. 2012 things on the menu...what the hell is making something "unicorn style"? :/ lmao read more

Sugar and Scribe - Full Irish Breakfast - Bakeries Near Me - La Jolla, California

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Wow, this was my first experience dining out in the San Diego area (La Jolla), and it impressed me so much! This is my friend's go-to place for visitors, and I can easily understand why. Firstly, you'll be transfixed by the ambiance. So girly and inviting. There are flowers and gold everywhere and all of the china/glassware/silverware matches the aesthetic. As for food, definitely get the bread pudding french toast, it's delicious and comes with a slew of toppings/options (nuts, caramel, syrup, whipped cream). The king chicken in the pastry puff- so good. The spicy fried chicken biscuit sandwich was also excellent. Drinks- get a mimosa flight! No notes! Or, try a bloody mary- strong yet flavorful. Next time I'm in the area, I'll be back. read more

A must visit! Breakfast at Sugar & Scribe was delicious! We thoroughly enjoyed all meals ordered. The service was great, the outside dining area was nice. Especially on a nice sunny morning. Note: expect a long wait. I could definitely tell this place is a local favorite! They do have plenty of seating outside while you wait. Parking was a bit difficult to find. read more

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While browsing for brunch places along Southern Cali, I stumbled upon Sugar and Scribe. On my last day in SD, I knew I wanted to explore along La Jolla & said, "Hell yeah, making the stop here!" The ambiance on a random weekday was laidback & chill, yet still busy for late brunch. With the cute decor perfect for afternoon tea, I couldn't help but smile at how this resto was a hidden gem in the area. I ordered the mushroom toast and oh baby, it did not disappoint! Scrumptiously overloaded with mushrooms on a bed of whipped ricotta, every bite was delicious from beginning to end. It was a great way to end my trip in SD. Thank you, Sugar & Scribe! read more

This place has steadily declined over the years. Portions are smaller, quality feels cheaper, and consistency is no longer there. The biggest change is in the cafe itself. Pastries that were once made fresh in-house daily no longer have the same care or creativity. Items like the macarons, which used to be a highlight, are now clearly sourced elsewhere. Much of the retail space feels filled with mass-produced merchandise that doesn't reflect the quality or local character you'd expect in a La Jolla location with so many nearby suppliers. Most staff are fine, but interactions involving ownership often create unnecessary tension and disruptive scenes that affect the overall experience This used to be a place I loved. hopefully they can get back to the roots one day.... read more

I loved the ambience , it has such a cute outdoor area and is well decorated inside. They had about a 45 minute wait on a Sunday at 1030 but we just went across the street and had a mimosa at Public house Lobster Benedict- 8 /10 - the lobster was well cooked but I thought the hollandaise sauce tasted a little weird. The potatoes were delicious The bakery is rated as one of San Diego's best and they had some unique things like giant marshmallows but I was disappointed with their cookie and brownie selection . They did have some elaborate cakes and Rice Krispie treats read more

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Delicious brunch spot! I had the Lobster Benedict and my husband had the Crab Benedict and both were delicious. It was served with potatoes in a cute little side container which were soft with crispy edges. Our table also split the blueberry pancakes and they were super sweet and super tasty. The restaurant has an adorable outdoor sitting area but don't miss out on going inside at some point to see some really cute and quirky decor. It is definitely a popular spot though and they don't do reservations so make sure to plan for just a little bit of a wait. We ate here with a party of 5 on a Friday and waited about 30 mins. read more

Sugar and Scribe - Bakeries Near Me - La Jolla, California

This place used to be a bakery, not so much anymore. We made the mistake of buying a pumpkin pie that tasted more like cardamom than pumpkin. There was that awkward moment after a wonderful Thanksgiving feast when we sat down for dessert, and everyone looked at each other because we all knew it wouldn't be a good ending to a perfect dinner. Good thing we had ice cream to wash it down. Never again. read more

Great food, and service! The coffee was also very good. It was sorted to wait for 40 minutes! read more

Sugar and Scribe - Blueberry pancake - Bakeries Near Me - La Jolla, California

Delicious brunch and wonderful experience at Sugar and Scribe. I ordered the mushroom dish which was great, my son ordered the lobster dish with potato side which he didn't finish. The blueberry pancake was great as well. The service was friendly and the ambiance of the restaurant was beautiful and well executed. Parking was tricky but we ended up getting a spot right in front of the entrance but I can see parking being difficult in general but parking in Sam Diego generally is. Overall wonderful memories were made and Sugar and Scribe gets 5 stars! Thank you. read more

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Delicious food well presented in a good atmosphere. The avocado and mushroom toasts were generous and tasty. The pancakes and crepes were well crafted and very tasty without being too sweet. Coffees and teas were nicely done too. read more

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Inattentive and dismissive hostess/ staff very rude. We waited an hour and ended up leaving because the vibes were just not it

Cute decor and restaurant. Food was good. Lots of choices. We got lucky we got a table for 4 right away. read more

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I was influenced by all the reviews and posts I've seen and chose Sugar and Scribe over Blue Whale for Saturday brunch. Their wait time was about 20 mins on a nice Saturday morning. Luckily the time went by quickly and we were seated in their pop up tent. Immediately I smelled something sour and was put off...well that's because they were reusing a wet towel to clean the tables and it just smelled musty. We tried our best to move past it. The service was quick though. My husband had a black coffee and I had a chai latte that were out in less than 5 minutes. The chai was so good - especially since I had a bad chai the day before. Lol the spices were balance and it was comforting. My husband had the bread pudding French toast and it was incredible! The bread was soft and moist, the candied pecans offered a nice texture and the whiskey caramel was extremely creamy and rich. It was a very sweet dish but so so yummy! I ordered the chilaquiles with added chicken and it was a nice portion with a good amount of heat. I really enjoyed it until I found a piece of hair deep in my dish...at this point I was practically done with my meal but it was still very off putting. I decided to inform the staff so they could prevent it for future customers. Our server was nice enough to genuinely apologize and removed it from our bill. That want my intention at all, but it was very nice of him. The food and service was really good, but the musty smell of the wet towels and the hair in my food is a concern for the cleanliness of the restaurant. read more

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During busy times, there's a 90 minute table turn limit stated on the menu. After 55 minutes, my daughter unexpectedly joined my table and we requested to order food for her, acknowledging we were aware of the policy. Server said he had to check with the manager. Manager came over and said we could not order additional food, even though we would be well under the time limit I let him know we understood we needed to be out at 90 minutes and he still said no, but we could order takeaway. Server came over and when we requested to order the takeaway, he said we couldn't do that either. Confused, we let him know the manager had said we could, and then he seemed confused. I asked what is the point of a 90 minute policy if you actually make people leave after 60 minutes and he just said "I'm sorry". I had already ordered another mimosa and coffee drink, so we would not just be sitting at the table taking up space without spending money. The server left the table again to talk to the manager, came back and told us we could go to the coffee bar to order takeaway. At that point, we declined, as I did not want to give those people any more of my money. We paid and left. Food and Bev wise: my steak was overcooked to the point of being inedible. They said it comes out "closer to medium than medium rare" but it was well done and rubbery. It took 20 minutes to get a mimosa. read more

We sat outside and they had a heat lamp since it was a little cold outside. It was decorated well and complimented the vibe. The food was pretty good, although my friends commented on how the biscuit was dry. I had the spicy Shashuka sunrise skillet which was flavorful and I enjoyed it and not that spicy either. We also got a mimosa flight which my personal favortie was the hibiscus. The service was alsp good which added to my experience. read more

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(Service Based Review) One Particular Employee Description: African American male, 5'8", late 20's early 30's, low cut Afro style haircut. On Sunday morning 4/27 my family and I decided to have brunch here. The night before my niece became engaged. We had a party of 10. 8 adults, 2 children. 9 of people in the party are African American and my wife is Caucasian. Now the incident. My daughter had to use the restroom, so my wife took her. After using the restroom, my wife and daughter were stopped by this employee and he asked my wife, "SO YOU THINK YOU'RE BLACK"? My wife grabbed our daughter and returned to the table. My wife knows me well and didn't tell me about this until after we had left. The rest of the staff was welcoming, and the food was great. As for this employee, you insulted my wife and my daughter. Even with my wife being insulted by you, she spared the embarrassment you had coming at your place of employment. I'm sure Sugar and Scribe management and owners don't tolerate this type of harassment to their customers. read more

The food is beautiful and very Instagramable, and the brunch is fun, but the flavors were nothing special. The chicken in the chicken and waffles were such a disappointment because the texture was good but the chicken was so dry. Come here for the vibes and the sugar, not the food. If you like sugary food, this place is for you, with their fun hot chocolate and beautiful unicorn pancakes. I also got the blue moon drink, and again very Instagramable but average in taste. Food: 6/10 Vibes: 10/10 There's usually a wait on the weekend, we waiting about 20-30min for a table for 4. read more

Sugar and Scribe - Hot chocolate - Bakeries Near Me - La Jolla, California

i think all the other 5 star reviews have covered this, but the food was great, Kelsie and the other team members were super accommodating, and the vibes were fun . i appreciated the attention to detail to every part of the meal, including the dishes; everything felt like a vignette . for example, the coffee cup, saucer, and spoon tied together visually, and that was JUST the coffee . can't wait to go back and try more of the menu read more

It's 6 years since my first review and many brunches later, but this is still my favorite brunch spot in San Diego (and the greater Southern California region since I split my time between here and LA). The wait is usually about 30 minutes, the service is always pleasant, and the food absolutely amazing every single time. I've had many skillets and Eggs Benedicts here, and would recommend any of them. This is also my favorite place to bring out of town guests, and off the top of my head I can think of 6 other people who were really impressed. (One person who lives in the South even texted us nearly a year later asking for the name of the place because he was interested in recommending it to someone els!) It's in a great area and I also love the atmosphere. Perfect way to start off your weekend! Can't wait to be back. read more

This place came highly recommended on tiktok and yelp, so we thought we'd add it to the food tour on our babymoon! It turned out to be such a fun brunch/breakfast spot. When it comes to aesthetic, I am biased because the sweet and funfetti decor is 100% my vibe, but you can opt out of that with your food if you don't want it to look like a unicorn rolled all over it. Me? Please have 10 unicorns rolled al over it. Foodwise- Everything was cooked well and we really enjoyed the spread. Staff were also super nice and on top of it all. read more

Sugar and Scribe - Bakeries Near Me - La Jolla, California

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STOP THE CAR! This restaurant is a must go! Very unusual brunch menu! Divine Desserts! The food and service is delicious! read more

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I like the fact the at they don't do reservations, but I also don't like it because that means you may have to wait in line for a bit, like 20min or so just to put your name on the list to get called for seating. Once we got seated, we had excellent service-seriously everyone was so nice! There are quite a few options to choose from on the menu, but I ended up ordering the bread pudding French toast. It was better than good, but not great, and I feel like that was the general consensus at the table. I will say that the interior was really nice, and I love the fact that they have a store with lots of goodies. read more

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Came here on a Saturday around 12:30 pm. We were lucky to get a parking spot on the street right across from the restaurant, which is free. I've heard that finding parking in La Jolla is pretty terrible so we were very grateful. For our party of 3, they said it would be about 30-45 minutes of waiting. We were able to sit at their waiting area outside. Our table became ready after 28 minutes. We were sat at a large table at the lower patio where a different party of 3 were sitting on the other side, great way for the restaurant to use up space and we didn't mind at all because there were 1 set of seats between us. We had looked at the menu while we waited so we could be ready to go since we were so hungry. If you want a quicker experience, I'd recommend going this route so you can order everything at once and make it easier on the employees as well. My boyfriend ordered the S&S bloody while my friend ordered the chai tea latte (now I think about Spider-Man Across the Multiverse explaining chai tea is redundant). They came out first. The S&S bloody was delicious! My boyfriend let me eat the fun ingredients like the blue cheese stuffed olives (2), celery stalk, and pickled green bean. My friend ordered the blueberry love pancakes with a side of potatoes, my boyfriend ordered the butter poached lobster Benedict, and I got the southern love shrimp & grits. The pancakes were so pretty. I started understanding the whimsical theme right around that time. The menu had a hot chocolate list in pink and purple hues. The seating felt like a fairytale setting. Employees were wearing fun and bright makeup. And the pancakes had edible glitter. They tasted pretty good when I tried some. The blueberries were yummy and the pancakes were lemony. The shrimp & grits were my favorite. The shrimps were big and plump, maybe slightly underdone but had amazing seasoning the grits were creamy and cheesy. I scraped up every last bite. In comparison, the Benedict was slightly less flavorful. My boyfriend thought it was really good though since he had bites of it first, but then agreed the shrimp & grits had more flavor. He got his with both a side of normal hollandaise and a side of sriracha hollandaise. The spicy one was bomb and really elevated the dish. The lobster was plentiful and perfectly bouncy. He also got potatoes as his side which were thin and peppery. Overall a delicious meal with really fast service. They're super efficient at getting people in and out without feeling like you're being rushed. We went inside for the bathroom and to look at the bakery and it was so cute inside! Looked like a huge candy store. There were a few bigger tables inside and gender neutral bathrooms. The bakery section looked yummy but we didn't get anything. Great place for brunch and I can see why they won a lot of awards! read more

Sugar and Scribe - S&S bloody, chai tea - Bakeries Near Me - La Jolla, California

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Loved the patio seating outdoor. Our server was Landon and he was very polite and recommended some dishes. Food was great and good portions. Highly recommended for brunch. read more

Sugar and Scribe - Bakeries Near Me - La Jolla, California

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