This place is not bad during for being at UCSD. I used to frequent this place more, especially during social hour (4-6pm). They have happy hour food and drinks. Both their sliders are ok. They offer 4.50 beer, 5.50 wine, and 3.50 mimosas. Not that bad for being one of the few places on campus where you can drink. read more

The reason I went here was actually for a class but on happy I did, because now I know I will be coming back! I had to do a review on a jazz performance so I went during "improv@happy hour" to watch some grad students perform. While I was waiting for it to start I had a few questions that a server/bartender in glasses happily answered for me. I got all the information I needed plus some added info on food and drink specials. Unfortunately? I ate 20 mins before I got there but 15 mins into the performance, everyone else's delicious smelling and looking food got served so I just had to order some fries. They were in point and I definitely plan on ordering more next time I come. If you like thick cut fries you might not like then cause the basket of fries are match stick fries (my favorite!). I left all my stuff on the table to ask a musician a few questions and my 1/4 full fries were gone when I came back :/ at least my notes and sunglasses were still there though. read more

Mike and Bianca are excellent servers, bartenders, and all-around human beings, and it's a joy popping in during the day simply to say hi. The Loft also serves as a fantastic meeting space, and Brian R. has always been a wonderful person to work with when it comes to facilitating and scheduling events within the venue itself. Cheers to the entire staff for being so great! read more

The food is delicious! I never feel weighed down by what I eat there, and I ALWAYS leave more than satisfied. The staff greets you like you've been coming there for years (the cafe recently opened this month), and the service is excellent. The prices are okay, but you get what you pay for in the quality and flavor of the food. I recommend it to anyone who wants to mellow out in between classes and get some good eats without the food court bustle. read more

I'm a fan of Zanzibar, but I come knowing it's gonna be a little pricey. Seriously though, the turkey melt/pannini or whatever is one of the most awesome sandwiches you can get on campus. Their chips are super yummy too, but only if you're lucky enough to get them fresh. Sometimes you get the last of the batch before and they can be a tad rubbery. But overall, good selection of beer/wine and it's nice to have a classier place to eat on campus. read more

Since UCSD campus has very few GOOD places to eat, I'm glad that there is a zanzibar here. They have a good selection of beer and wines, and the food (although on the slightly pricier side) is always delicious. The turkey bacon sandwich is really good, and the chicken pesto sandwich is delicious as well. read more

Zanzibar is one of my favorite places to eat on campus. Probably the only place where I have to contemplate what I want to eat for more than a few seconds. There are so many good options! I love getting the soup and sandwich. Although it is more expensive than other on campus options like Panda and Subway, what else would you expect for real food? I don't know how fresh it is, but it sure seems fresh to me, and delicious. Definitely worth a try if you are ever on campus (unless it is Tuesday before 2, in which case you should go to the Farmer's Market! ) read more

Back again...this time to try something new on the menu, and it proved to be a good choice. Tried the french dip which was excellent! Very tasty and the au jus was made perfectly. The staff is so friendly....Mike always takes care of my order. It never disappoints. read more

The food here is really good. Their lunch menu is good with good prices. It doesn't get overwhelmingly busy here. It is right in PC in the middle of campus and the vibe here is pretty laid back. I had the Mexican Fajita lunch item and it was really good. The chicken was quite moist which is a problem with a lot of the places I go to. read more

This place is an oasis on a campus with very few good places to get food/drink. Especially love the happy hour (and the flatbread they serve then). read more

Good food. Good beer. Awesome service. Mike is great to talk to about beer. Cheeeeeers

if zanzibar cafe sold their chips in the supermarket, i would buy it. they're perfectly seasoned, and crispy..so crispy. every ridge on the chip is happiness. i had the tuna sandwich here, and i can't say i'm a fan. it was really dry...and the tuna..i think they fill it with too many extra ingredients like onions, celery, etc, because it overwhelms the taste of the tuna, so i didn't get any tuna goodness from my sandwich. i finished my chips, but not my sandwich.. =( it also came with this orange-y soup, i'm not positive what it was, but i'm going to guess..butternut squash? it tasted bland, but in a gross way. i mean, bland means it tasted like nothing pretty much, right? well, it managed to taste bland, but distasteful at the same time. however, i love the atmosphere here. my friends and i have had lunch here a few times, and it's probably my favorite location to lunch with friends on campus because of the environment. i love the huge round table! hehe my friends have had better experiences with the food here, so hopefully i get something yummier in future lunch dates with my girlies :) read more

The tastiest turkey burger ever. I got to try this prior to planning my wedding- DELICIOUS. Great people, good food= good times

I remember going to small (and I mean SMALL) concerts here when I was a student at UCSD. I'm pretty sure the capacity is maaaaybe 150. It's a great place though! Wine and beer served, they put on music, and it feels sort of like a nightclub. There was the dance floor where people could get their dance on, and only 21+ was admitted after a certain time, which is always nice. I've been to the one downtown, and it's a really different vibe/scene, but this one holds its own in a different but equally awesome way. Def worth checking out, especially if you're still a student and 21+ read more

The Zanzibar cafe partnered with the Loft, a performance art venue at ucsd, and provides a limited but good menu the seats with table service and drinks for non-table seats. The bar has about 7-8 draft beers and either a red or white wine (cab or chardonay), 3 huge portion salads, 4 types of sandwiches or burgers, 2 soups, and 7-9 small plates. We could have easily shared a salad and a soup because portions were big. We had a shrimp kale quinoa salad, house salad, pork belly black bean purse soup, and chicken sausage potato kale soup. The Food was average and neither of us finished either salad or soup. It was uninspiring. Worse they forgot to close out our table and we forgot to get our credit card back. Typically the staff come and ask us if we want anything else before they close out the tab- not tonight or any night? Not sure - a friend at another table didn't even get her order entered. So if you go to a show at the Loft- maybe just stick to drinks and don't leave a credit card! read more

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In general, decent food but slightly pricey and decent drinks for a reasonable price. Not bad, especially compared to the other options around campus. read more

I come here pretty often for lunch, and I think it has the best food on campus. The food is always fresh and the service is very friendly. I really enjoy the turkey burgers, salmon burger, and mango chicken salad. They also have a really good wine and draught beer selection! read more

Great place! Yes, pricy, but it's also the only food place where I'll make a trek out to main campus for.

My friend bought a sandwich from here the other day and it smelled really good! So I decided to give it a try and got a panini! But, the panini was too crispy and hard that it started scraping the top of my mouth and was quiet painful =[ Guess I won't be going back there anytime soon. read more

The food is pretty good and priced pretty fairly. I've had the cold Mediterranean sandwich, the hot tuna sandwich, the four cheese panini, the vegetarian chili, and the mac and cheese. The chips that usually come with almost everything are super crispy. My favorite part about Zanzibar is the atmosphere, especially if you can go there at less crowded times (after 2P). It's a really mellow, hip place with good music to study at if you're tired of Geisel or crowded cafes like Perks or Roma. You can just chill at the bar on your laptop or sit at one of the table for a few hours, while enjoying the ambiance. read more

The food is a bit pricey, but I like the choice of sides. Coleslaw is good. The mushroom burger I got before was pretty good. Salmon burger was a bit dry. Salad was ordinary. I like the atmosphere of the place though. read more

If you're looking for the worst fish tacos in the world, look no further. This place has them. The fish is not even remotely fresh, and the salsa tastes like straight vinegar. The corn is most likely from a can, and the guacamole is flavorless. read more

'Twas after our 8am and all through our bellies, our juices were churning, yearning even for jelly. Oh my, I believe I've stumbled upon a ritzy little joint in the heart of UCSD campus. Or rather, my friend did and he dragged me to go eat at Zanzibar with him... I was pretty amazed when I walked in - rarely ever do I venture onto the 2nd floor of PC East, let alone go eat at the Loft. The furniture was pretty modern. If they threw in some booths, it'd be the best little lounge ever. My friends all ordered the Farmer's Scramble. Trying to break out of the mold, I ordered a Morning Burro. Risk well taken. The Morning Burro was a delicious breakfast burrito - eggs, sausage, bacon, and wonderfully crispy potato thingers that gave it a unique crunch, all wrapped into a crispy tortilla wrap. I was the clear winner of the morning, not to say that the Farmer's Scramble wasn't great (it was pretty bomb actually!) The set up they have at the Loft is pretty amazing - cafe by day, club by night. I have a feeling Zanzibar may fill the gaping void in my stomach Tuesday and Thursday mornings from now on. read more

I gave this place 5 stars because it's the best place to eat on UCSD campus. It's not hard to compete against Subway and Burger King and the likes on campus, but this place is still the rockstar of campus eats. Their turkey avacado was delish. The mango chicken salad was surprisingly delicious! I usually hate salads as a meal; it's just so unsatisfying and you just don't get that warm round belly feeling that just makes my food coma so much more enjoyable. However!!!! I was pleasantly surprised at the flavor and texture of this salad. It has fresh mango and some good goat cheese paired with fresh greens and a nice balsamic vinegar dressing. My love for this place really blossomed when I discovered their turkey burger. It is juiiccyy and flavorful and they give you TWO PATTIES! Rockstars baby. It's quite big so definitely bring your A-game. Oh yeah, the house chips are pretty bomb and their slaw is pretty delish too. Anyone up for some happy hour?? Beer tasters to chase down your turkey burg! read more

Had the veggie panini and it was crunchy, flavorful, and fabulous...love this place...best meal on campus (excluding faculty club, of course)...will be going here at least once a week...nice overall decor and feel...great addition to UCSD!! read more

Great Music at The Loft. Danny Green and company provided a great night at the Loft in UCSD Price Center. We did not have dinner, but the coffee was great. read more

For campus food, this place is legit! Albeit the food is pricey but you gotta pay the premium price for great food on campus. Fresh lemonade and a panini always hits the spot read more

Love the food but you absolutely have to ask the bartender Mike to make you a shandy.

I am disappointed in the loft management/security. They recently had a UCSD literature professor arrested. This information was made public in the UCSD guardian. While the article was problematically incorrect, it is true that the Loft had the professor arrested. There is footage on the web that shows multiple security guards handling the professor, pushing him, and holding him until the police arrived. The professor is seen trying to talk to the security, but the latter ignores him and continues to harass him. In general, I find that the Loft caters to a White hipster audience. The ambience can be unwelcoming at best and toxic at worst for people who do not fit into this White hipsteriness. I will be getting my drinks from Porters from now on. Never to set foot on the Loft ever again. read more

in my opinion, Zanzibar serves the best / highest quality food at UCSD that i have had the luxury of eating! the atmosphere is quite casual and relaxed and the place (i.e. the furniture and decor) is quite modern. the staff are super friendly, the music is always on point, and the food is pretty good - or at least i enjoy it! i have tried almost everything from their menu, from hot and cold sandwiches to tacos and burgers to their soups and salads. also, did i mention they serve alcohol and have amazing happy hour deals! definitely check this place out if you are getting bored of the dining halls or need something new to try and you may become a regular like me! read more

The staff are what make this place so great. The food is a close second. Great service - Mike, Jasmine, Biancha, Tyler, they are all amazing. The breakfast is the very best on campus, and you can get a mimosa while you're at it.. What's better than that?! The coffee is really good too if you aren't in the mood for a drink. Steady dose of good shows at night of all types and super cheap for UCSD students. Mike has excellent taste in beer and has a delicious selection of rotating beers on tap. If you're a student you must go, and if you're not you still should. read more

Although they are probably the priciest place to get food at Price Center, the food there is very delicious. I'm a fan of just about all the foods that I've tried - the flatbreads are pretty yum although on some days they can be a tad greasy. I love their soups (especially their carrot ginger), their blackened fish burger is amazing and I love the vinaigrette that the side salad is served with. Mac n cheese is also on point.. In groups, the chips and fries with the variety of accompanying sauces is the best or the garlic edamame if you're trying to be healthy. The servers in front are friendly and helpful for the most part, although the food can take a bit of time to come out from the kitchen, especially when they're busy. The biggest issue I have with the place is how inconsistent their hours are. For grad students and post-docs/staff who are on-campus for the full day and during school "holidays" and especially with Porters Pub gone, The Loft is the closest place we can go to grab a beer or glass of wine. It is a major bummer to read that their operating hours are from 10 a.m. - 6:00 p.m. and get there around 5:15 p.m. to see that the chairs are already up, lights out and doors locked. This is even worse during summer when their operating hours say they're open until 4 p.m. (or 3?) but they'll be closed by 2 p.m. or even sooner. We've even called ahead to double-check that they're open and by the time we get there the doors are locked. We've also come when they're hosting "private events" and have been either turned away at the door or told we need to leave earlier. The fact that they're hosting so many events for the student body is fine, but I think we would appreciate being able to find a reliable schedule somewhere that we can refer to for up-to-date and accurate hours of operation. read more

i would starve without zanzibar. you could only eat so much subway, panda ex, rubios, and santorini before it gets old. zanzibar is fresh and tasty. i go here because i crave their slaw and chips. read more

If you find yourself on UCSD campus and in the mood for a chill hipster vibe Zanzibar is a good place to go for lunch. It is definitely one of the more posh places to go on campus for grub. The meals are pretty tasty but rather small in portion for the price. I have only had the assortment of paninis when I've gone. Again like I mentioned it was tasty but I'm pretty much smitten with any sandwich or anyone who gives me a sandwich for that matter. What I do like about this place is the collection of beer they serve. Some very interesting brands to choose from! I would recommend the "old Rasputin" if you're looking to get weird for the weekend. Service is alright, I'm honestly a bit bias about the bartender there since he pretty much got me arrested the last time I was here; but that's a story for next time. Overall: Tasty sandwiches, good beer, not a great place for getting white girl wasted. read more

The food was very lackluster and overpriced. BLT was nothin special for $8. Very very crowded and noisy for lunch.

The food here was definitely good. I had the the mango chicken salad and my friend had the turkey burger. Both were fantastic. The turkey meat had a really rich taste and a soft texture, and all the components of the salad went well together. The chips were also good. The only reason I rate this place a 2 instead of a 3 or 4 is because they only use disposable tableware. This cheapened the whole experience and made it seem like a glorified fast food place. read more

Cute and cozy. Came here for the first time and am feeling pretty jealous for all those ucsd kids. I got their regular house salad with chicken and a soft drink- the total was like $15, a bit much for ucsd food court. But it was plenty of food and pretty tasty too. read more

this is a friendly place. the busier it gets, the slower the service, but the staff was clearly trying to help everyone consistently, and they were nice. read more