Cute breakfast spot, friendly staff great food! My go to is their cinnamon roll pancakes so so good!

This place is one of my favorite local stops! To be completely honest tho, it's worth a drive. The food is always on point! Specifically it's the Gluten Free Cinnamon Roll pancakes for me tho... I can't eat wheat at all, tho I'm not EPI-pen status. I miss having yummy cinnamon rolls... this place cures my craving 10000000x over! So once a month, I make sure to stop in and eat with my friends and family... if you're gluten free - this IS your breakfast place. read more

1st impressions matter and are usually spot on, in the case of the Trails Eatery, it was love a first bite. This place rocks! I love old school diners but also appreciate en Vogue locales and the Trails appeals to both. I ordered the Country Bene which is a version of eggs Benedict only with biscuit, sausage, and country gravy. Served with home fries, it made for a very hearty breakfast. Add a cup of coffee and we're at $15, a fair price for such a delectable meal. I like the concept of turning biscuits and gravy into an eggs Benedict but have to admit I expected it to be a little better. The only criticism, and it's minor, is I would have preferred the biscuit to be a little fluffier and moist versus dry and grilled. Not sure why they grilled it? I guess an extra heap of gravy might have solved the issue but I took it for how it was served. I was close by at Kaiser in Zion and was hungry for breakfast so Yelp'd my way over, There was no wait and the server, Mariah, was super nice and friendly, definitely coming back. Glad I stumbled on it! read more

Pretty good brunch spot in San Diego. The wait here isn't as bad compared to Breakfast Republic. Hint: You can join the waitlist via Yelp app! I was very interested in trying the croissant french toast, so decided to order that. My sister ordered the cinnamon roll pancakes, which she said is her fave here. Both are really, really delicious. Definitely recommend to order some eggs & bacon with the pancakes and french toast to offset the sweets. The service here is quick and friendly. Definitely recommend this place. I'll be back to try the other items on the menu! read more

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I really like this place. That said, I still think there are areas of improvement. Let's talk about what I like. Their prices are fair. Their service is quick, whether it's taking an order or delivering the food. The portion size is more than generous, take a look at the number of fries We got with our sandwiches in my photos. The people that work there are very nice and always welcoming. Speaking of the generous portion of fries, the fries are terrific. What I didn't like about this visit was the sourdough bread. Sourdough bread on my sandwich tasted more like dry, airy white bread than a traditional sourdough. I'm hoping that maybe I just got slices from a not so great loaf . I'll come back here. Without a doubt. And I'm hoping I can give it five stars next time. read more

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I have been going to the trials twice a month since the beginning of the pandemic. The food and service was amazing and I highly recommend it to friends. The last few times the service was ok but my over medium eggs have been runny. It used to be perfect every time up until recently. I figure a place that makes great eggs Benedict would be able to make an over medium egg , so I kept ordering it this way. I had family from out of town visiting and we were excited about going , and the food was mediocre at best and the eggs were super runny and undercooked, so politely said something to the server who sat us. I said politely that I order over medium eggs and the were really runny , and he snapped back at me "AND!?" . I replied " and I would like them remade please" , he then proceeded to walk off as he scoffed. 2 minutes later he shows up across the restaurant points at me with both of his hands as the manager stared at our table . Then the manager circled the table and stared at us then came back and asked if he could be of assistance. I explained to him that my eggs were a bit runny and they weren't over medium. He said he'd remake them and said" I am easy". I orded the chicken fried steak with gravy and I like to eat them with my eggs at the same time so I waited until they were remade. They came out super fast and they were just slightly less runny than the first time. I sat in contemplated whether I should complain again or just eat the food and the manager then approach me and asked" is there something that matter?" I really didn't want to make a fuss of it but I mentioned that the eggs were still runny. He explained at great length what a over medium egg was (which by his definition was an over easy egg), and that he personally made these eggs himself. I bit my tongue and he noticed. Then he told me to "Google it" I said I didn't need to Google it because I went to culinary school and I was graded on how to cook eggs the proper way( Home ec, ROP culinary arts, Grossmont College culinary arts 2nd semester the final is how to cook and flip and egg). I also mentioned that the eggs were cooked this way the last three times I had been in and he explained this is how they're made because that's a over medium egg. The manager did not take kindly to this and got super defensive and stormed off after saying " I am easy" again, he said he'd bring me two more eggs. The eggs came they were over hard the yolk was completely cooked and opaque The yolk was broken and cooked all over the whites of the egg, then I asked him to come over and this is when he got super upset and snapped that I said something and said he would get back my money and then stormed off and made me wait there for 20 minutes. At that point I asked my family to wait outside while I tried to speak to him and explain to him that he embarrassed me in front of my family and that I didn't take kindly to being berated as a customer that ordered something of certain way ( pretty standard request)that he agreed and after a third time couldn't make the eggs right. He told me that everybody that worked there had been there for 15 years in the back and I was the only person that ever complained about eggs being runny( even though I've read several reviews on Yelp afterwards that complain about their eggs being runny). I usually don't post things like this but I was super offended by the way the situation was handled by a manager. I can expect this by wait staff that are younger and inexperienced, but by a manager is ridiculous. I understand defending your staff, but defending something that is so blatantly wrong and so blatantly widely known is ridiculous. It used to be my favorite breakfast spot until recently, I thought that my concerns would be heard and maybe changes would be made, but the manager told me "you're just one person out of 150 in the restaurant and if you don't t like it you can go somewhere else and eat eggs there". I had three different interactions with him each time he stormed off in a huff and could not even take constructive feedback until the end , and he pushed the interactions not me on how eggs were made. I don't know how anybody would get through culinary school without knowing how to make a proper egg, and then have the nerve to belittled a customer in the middle of their restaurant when they bring it to their attention. I hope this restaurant isn't backsliding to need Restaurant Impossible to come rescue them again, as for me as a customer they've lost me and few other of my friends that I've spoken to since this incident, but hey you don't need any more loyal customers right Manager? ......And BTW I googled , you were absolutely wrong as a manager to defend those runny eggs , take a look at the Google results , and maybe you and your line cooks could " Google it" to get it right going forward? read more

The Trails Eatery - Hey manager this is what an over medium egg looks like, and you went to culinary school? - Breakfast & Brunch Near Me - San Diego, California

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5 STARS!!! This is my new favorite place. Came on a Sunday after church, and the line was out the door to wait. There was a sign that said most of their staff was out for a memorial for a loyal customer. Even then, we waited in line for 15 mins-25 mins. As soon as we ordered, drinks came out immediately for our party of 7. Not even 5 mins we got our food and they apologized for the "wait" The food is so flavorful, colorful, Phenomonal. Coming back! read more

The Trails Eatery - Breakfast & Brunch Near Me - San Diego, California

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I got the breakfast burrito and pumpkin pancakes! The service was great and the prices are reasonable too! The pumpkin pancakes reminded me of something similar to the Trader Joe's collection!! I enjoyed the flavor and the large portion size. The pancakes were very filling! The breakfast burrito was tasty, but nothing super special. The service was quick and the atmosphere was nice and quiet even though it was a Saturday morning! read more

The Trails Eatery - Breakfast & Brunch Near Me - San Diego, California

Here's what we liked: the staff! Super helpful and very friendly. Emily had such an energy and great service. I was impressed with their extensive gluten free menu. I played it safe and went with an omelette, but wished I chose to adventure with something else. My husband chose the country scramble without the eggs as he has an egg allergy. We were expecting the biscuits to be more biscuity but they looked like and had the texture of muffins. He said the gravy, sausage, and home fries were good though. I'd go back for the service and the gluten free options. read more

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Their gluten free options are great! I've tried all of them and haven't been disappointed. I'm sure the rest of the menu is amazing too

Trails Eatery is a brunch type restaurant serving key breakfast items like: benedicts, scrambles, french toast, waffles, egg dishes. They have a lovely outside seating area in the couple front parking spots of the place. Currently (or as of recent), the concept is you order at the counter, then you pick any cleaned table, and the food is brought out to you. The food was basic to me, not GREAT, but honestly not BAD. It does the job for the price and amount of time we waited on a Saturday morning (virtually none). Service was nice and they worked to clean and turn tables quickly. Lemon Berry Frenchie (Gluten Free). $13 For Gluten Free option, I could not even tell the bread was gluten free, which is great! . Unfortunately, sour dough french toast is a bit too tart versus regular thick bread. The flavor profile wasn't great -- many sour things put together - sour bread, sour berries, sour lemon curd. The only solution to eating this dish was to drown it in syrup. Made it a combo and added eggs, hashbrown and sausage. Sad thing was the entire combo plate came out cold and messily put together probably because it was put on a small plate rather than laid out on a large plate. Chicken Fried Steak - Smaller Portion, thinned out chicken fried steak. Just basic. Filled the belly up! read more

This is our most favorite place to have breakfast! The food is always fresh, delicious and they treat you like family!! Our family has been eating here for years now and when I ask my kids if they want to go to breakfast, they always say, "can we go to The Trails Daddy?" And I always say, "well hurry up let's go!!" read more

The Crab Benedict was great! The environment inside is relaxing and the service was perfect! read more

The Trails Eatery - Crab Benedict w/ Berries - Breakfast & Brunch Near Me - San Diego, California

Came here for brunch on a Sunday morning at 10am and place was packed (always a great sign)! Since they only seat complete parties, make sure everyone arrives on time. Upon entrance to the resto, you order at the register in the front, get a number, then go to your table...sorta weird for what you would expect from a full service resto, but it's not really a full service resto. Once seated you don't really get any service from staff except for the fact that they drop off your food and drink... Seems like the place is frequented by locals and lots of families. Very nice to find a place that is family friendly and also has a nice selection of mimosas. The food is decent and portion sizes are reasonable, but nothing to go out of your way for. read more

I'm not from Cali, but I frequent here often when I'm in the San Diego area. I first learned about this neighborhood restaurant from seeing them on Food Network. Trails is about a 15 min drive off the 8 when I'm coming into town and located north of the Murray Reservoir. I've always enjoyed the hospitality that I have received here and it is part of the reason why I keep coming back. The menu is a nice selection of comfort breakfast food and lunch. The Cinnamon Roll pancakes are their signature item and are to die for. They also have a nice variety of eggs benedicts and scramble dishes. The Pesto Scramble has a nice blend of pesto, artichoke and feta cheese and is one my favorites I like to order. The homefries are delicious too! The Trails Eatery is popular with the locals and makes for a nice day out for brunch. read more

The Trails Eatery - Sin-a-Mon Roll Pancakes - Breakfast & Brunch Near Me - San Diego, California

I discovered this gem a few years ago and whenever I have a breakfast or lunch meet up, this is my go to suggestion. My goal is to branch out on the menu each time but I always order my favorite hash-it's just SO GOOD. But I don't think anything on the menu could disappoint. Service is always very friendly which is refreshing these days. read more

I have heard a lot about this spot and was finally in the area to try it out. It was a Saturday morning around 9am so I was a little worried that it would be super busy and it was busy but we were able to order and get seated pretty quickly which was awesome. I am normally the kind of person who looks at the menu before going to a new place but I didn't this time and I definitely should of because the menu had so many awesome things on it which made it hard to pick out exactly what I wanted! I figured I would stick with a delicious traditional eggs benny and of course I added avocado, my boyfriend went for the bene asada... oh my goodness that steak on the benny was perfection, perfectly juicy and tender and had amazing flavor! I loved my benny as well because you can never go wrong with simple but his was definitely a star of the meal. We also shared a mimosa flight which comes in cute little muffin tins. The staff here is incredible always checking in on you always getting everything you need and efficiently - such a great experience and I had to force myself to stop eating so I wouldn't get too full! read more

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The food has lost its flavor since the reopen after the pandemic. Service has always been good. read more

The food is absolutely delicious. I had the French toast, and it was absolutely perfect down to the fresh fruit on top. I also had a caramel machiato, which was good. Huge kudos for using biodegradable straws The wait was REALLLLLLY long, over an hour and at least 40 mins past our quoted time. I made a reservation on yelp. we also visited during Sunday brunch time, so if you're not into crowds/wait times I would recommend visiting during a different time. read more

I've been here a few times now. The staff is all very friendly and quick to attend to their customers, Emily sticks out to me the most she was on TOP of it, super friendly and really set a fun atmosphere. The food was all out quick too. My family that accompanied me were not fans of the home fries, no seasoning on the potatoes at all making them very bland. I got the lemon berry frenchie and it was good for what it was. I personally learned I'm not a huge fan of sourdough French toast but I enjoyed it a lot more than I thought I would. read more

The Trails Eatery - Lemon berry frenchie with over easy eggs and sausage - Breakfast & Brunch Near Me - San Diego, California

Trails eatery might not be aesthetic and a hole in the wall lowkey but the food is top top tier for brunch food! I've gone to cute and popular brunch spots in La Jolla and tbh I regret it most of the time bc it's expensive asf and the food here is sooooo much better. My go to order is the crab cake Benedict, French onion soup with extra croutons, and 1 cinnamon roll pancake on the side for last. All for me! I literally stuff my face whenever I'm here, it hits every. time. read more

I always enjoy taking friends to the Trails. That way we can split the cinnamon roll pancakes. They are sooo delicious but far too decadent for one person. I would highly recommend this place for all your breakfast and brunch needs. You won't be disappointed! read more

I got the breakfast burrito with bacon and I thought it was very homogeneous; the eggs, potatoes, and avocado all had the same texture, mushy. The bacon was the only item that had any 'bite' to it but there wasn't much bacon in the burrito. A little disappointing. I will get something else if/when I return. My wife got the Healthy Hash and loved it. read more

Comfy spot for amazing brunch!! Haven't been to this place since before the pandemic and boy have I missed it! Service: We came around peak brunch hour on a Sunday morning and there was a line for people waiting to order. Waited around 20 mins before we got to the front counter to order. Food came quickly within 5-10 mins! They were pretty busy but pretty frequently an employee would walk past and ask how we were doing! Very friendly :) Food: We ordered the lemon berry french toast and the crab cake Benedict! The french toast was a good texture - crispy on the outside and soft layers! There was a perfect amount of lemon curd but I do wish there were more berries. The crab cake on the benedict was perfectly crispy and not fishy at all! Good amount of crab meat & I loveddd the chipotle sauce it came with too! I do wish the home fries were more crispy because they were basically just thinly sliced cooked potatoes and I was expecting more of like crispy hash browns :( Overall I would highly recommend this place for brunch! Their french toasts are honestly one of the best places in SD to me (like the croissant french toast which is my all time fav) and have a good selection of savory items amongst their benedict's and omelets (also a bit cheaper than la jolla or downtown brunch places and JUST as good)! Service is friendly and even if there is a wait, it goes by pretty quick and is definitely worth it! read more

The Trails Eatery - lemon french toast - Breakfast & Brunch Near Me - San Diego, California

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I got the breakfast with eggs and bacon, potatoes, and a biscuit. It was good, but way overpriced for what they give you. The portion for $18 should be bigger... Could have gotten double the amount at a Denny's. Cute atmosphere though. read more

I writing here while I'm sitting at this place,Man this place has gone downhill. Waitresses don't even stop by to see if you want another refill. They only serve your food and walk away.They changed it completely,the food was terrible.How could you charge so much for the lousy service and food. Order a meat omelette was supposed to come with avocado. You should be ashamed of yourself about the toast when you usually get two slices of toast you got one slice cut in half. What kind of bullshit is that? And the prices unbelievable. Only a bunch of fools will go back to that place. read more

The Trails Eatery - It's a meat omelette with a half a toast and no avocado what a fucking joke - Breakfast & Brunch Near Me - San Diego, California

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Pretty good tbh. I got the lemon lavender french toast the first time and it was great. Second time I got the piggy back bene which was okay in my opinion. Good idea but I feel like flavor was a little bit lacking for the meat. read more

We LOVE The Trails! The best breakfast we've had in SD or anywhere! It's absolutely delicious EVERY SINGLE TIME! I've tried so many things on the menu for breakfast and lunch and every single item I've tried has been absolutely amazing! The cinnamon roll pancakes are heavenly, the pesto scramble is one of my top faves, I also love the salads, sandwiches, and drinks too! My husband also loves his go to items! The Trails hits a home run for me every time. The service is quick, amazing, and so friendly. Everyone that works there is always so kind to us and we love coming in! The ambiance makes us feel so welcome and we always highly recommend The Trails to family and friends! A+++ Our fave!!!! read more

Decided to have breakfast here this morning with a few of my friends for my birthday. The food & service were good. I would definitely go back for breakfast. read more

The Trails Eatery - Breakfast & Brunch Near Me - San Diego, California

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The problem with a greeter is you spend all of your time being greeted by the greeter and hearing all about his favorites that you have no interest in and no oppty to actually lóok at the menu, so you end up getting bum rushed at the counter and order a pesto chicken sandwich that apparently doesn't have pesto. The lemon French toast was good. The coffee was thin. Counter service sucks because no one owns you as a guest and if there's something wrong it's tough to get attention. We'll end up making different choices in the future. read more

This is a great local place for San Carlos/Del Cerro. Very family friendly and the patio they added during covid was a great benefit for the space. I also like the new ordering system, much easier for parents with limited time/kid patience! Use waitlist if planning to visit on the weekends. read more

The Trails Eatery - Egg white option for the Greek omelette, added avocado too, and the potatoes are well done. - Breakfast & Brunch Near Me - San Diego, California

Hey Yelpers ! This restaurant was really good ! The food was so great & the staff were so helpful. For our meals we had lobster benedict, healthy hash, and French toast. I had a mocha peppermint iced latte Lobster Benedict was great , my favorite part was the smash browns! Healthy hash was great as well! I thought it was going to taste bland, but it was so flavorful. We asked for a side of pesto and poured it on top! It was great. We definitely will be going back for that ! Now the star of the show, was the French toast. The French toast was absolutely amazing. The cream that was on the French toast paired perfectly with the berries. Actually craving the French toast right now! Peppermint mocha ice latte could've added more peppermint flavor but it was still good. Probably wouldn't get it again. Staff was amazing, the cashier was very helpful and friendly! Food: 5/5 Staff: 5/5 Parking: Yes Only patio dining right now read more

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Not in a fancy or hipster neighborhood, but you won't be disappointed. One of the best breakfast spots in SD. Hidden gem! My kids loved their cinnamon roll pancakes and I loved their croissant frenchie. If you love crab cakes as much as I do, you must order their crab cake benedict - wow! Rich in flavors and exceeded my expectations! Other standout dishes are the chicken fried steak and eggs and Elvis pancakes. Might be good to check out the menu and photos (right here on Yelp) before heading over - you order at the counter before being seated. Super-friendly service too, which is always a bonus. read more

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eggs benedict was mediocre, nothing bad nothing special, i enjoyed my food here. staff was friendly. comfy vibes here, plenty of seating. had to wait outside the door and order right when you get to the register. flights will get you there if you're semi lightweight like me read more

The Trails Eatery - Breakfast & Brunch Near Me - San Diego, California

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Heard a lot of great things about this place so thought I'd try it out. It's an interesting set up but understandable with less contact due to covid. You order your food first, pay for it and then you are seated. Our server was really nice and attentive. Maybe I was expecting more but the food overall was okay. Unfortunately lacking a lot of flavor. Sadly, I doused my omelet with hot sauce just to enjoy it. One of our Benedict orders was way over cooked and the yolk was solid. Today's visit was disappointing as we also brought along a visiting family member from out of town. read more

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We came back after a long layoff and stopped in for lunch. Overall the food was very good. But the new limited service dining style wasn't what I was expecting, nor was it very organized. You now order upfront, pay and then go sit down. The front area is relatively small and not clear on where to line up or stand. We went and sat down so we could review the menu and then came back to 6 people all standing around to order. The hostess was very nice and tried to keep track of who was next but it wasn't an ideal ordering process. Felt like going to Panera to eat. I would suggest reviewing the menu online so you know what you want when you get there. 4-5 stars on the food 5 stats on friendly staff 2 stars on ordering read more

GREAT breakfast!!! Wonderful service. GF pancake was UHmazing! Breakfast tacos were superb. Will be going back! read more

The Trails Eatery - GF pancake, pesto scramble, breakfast tacos. - Breakfast & Brunch Near Me - San Diego, California

Get the cinnamon roll pancakes and peppermint iced mocha. It's incredible! Great food and ambiance - little hidden gem.

Finally got a chance to dine here again while I could. Having been to an event here in the past, I had always kept this place in mind to visit if I happened to not be working early in the morning like I usually do. And it took me a while to return for those very reasons. The food is still delicious, and the prices are pleasantly affordable. I ordered the croissant french toast, sunny-side-up eggs, bacon, and additional home fries (which I intend to have every time I come here from this point on). I enjoyed my french toast very much, and it even caught the attention from the patrons at the table next to us. It was a testament to how excited people get from so many aspects of this place. The staff was definitely busy, but they were also very kind at the same time. We also saw Stacey, the owner, actively integrated in the operations as well, so that was absolutely great to see. She even poured my coffee and asked me how my day has been. Nothing but positive vibes! Parking is always available, as the lot accommodates all the surrounding businesses as well. FYI: - The whole party must be present to be seated at a table. Since there tends to be a wait to this place that only holds about 80 seats, it's best to not leave your other colleagues waiting for you. - If I'm not mistaken, you might be able to simply walk up to the "bar" seating without having to wait. - This restaurant is definitely kid-friendly, as they have high-chairs available for the little ones. - Open for breakfast and lunch. Dinner is not available. - Mimosas and sparking wine available - Reservations can be made for parties of 6 or more. - #brunchsohard read more

The cinnamon roll pancakes ! Everything that was ordered has yet to disappoint! The environment is extremely friendly, cozy, warm. Would love to come back here again soon! read more

The Trails Eatery - Cinnamon roll pancakes - Breakfast & Brunch Near Me - San Diego, California