Cafe 21 University Heights Reviews

We went for breakfast and had an excellent meal. I had the short rib omelet which was very good. The meat was tender and a real surprise to find on an omelet. Kathy had the omelet with chorizo. the wines are excellent and the service in very good. Not much for atmosphere but that is all cancelled by the exceptional care of the chef. Don't look for salt on the table. She likes it her way and you should follow.

Usually I get eggs benny at every place new, however this time I tried their french toast and it did NOT disappoint. I also got the mimosa flight, I highly suggest this only if you're not driving. This was one of my favorite breakfast I had in San Diego.

Party of 6 for casual brunch outside under umbrellas Food was unusual , tasty and everyone seemed to enjoy themselves. Omelette a are done in a small cast iron skillet delivered to the table oven hot as was my Dutch pancake in skillet with Apple compote and chocolate drizzle, similar to a soufflé. Fresh juices excellent coffee Service was friendly and very good Can't wait to return here for dinner sometime Zagat rated food 25 in 2015 and I can believe it Worth seeking out

Based on the positive TA reviews, we headed to Cafe 21 for brunch with high hopes for an authentic NYC brunch experience. We left disappointed. Service was good - but the drinks and food disappointing. Orange juice not fresh and Omlettes were dried out and too salty. Coffee tasteless too. I hate giving such a poor review, but that was our experience on the day.

Go for Sunday brunch. Try the green bloody mary and the chicken curry benedict. Excellent food. Decent service. There will be a line after 9 am.

They pride themselves in quality and fresh local vegetables and meat. We loved lunch so much on the sidewalk terrace that we came back on our lady day for breakfast. Eclectic and warm wait staff with great people watching.

We ate here last year and liked it so much we had to come back. They have moved into to a bigger and brighter space. We hade excellent service from Amber and the same delicious food. My daughter loved her crepes and my sandwich was made with real roasted turkey, not the sliced and processed junk. I love that they serve brunch until 4PM. We were there after 2 so we didn't have to wait at all.

Had a wonderful brunch here with my college girlfriends last saturday. The serivce was terrific, we were lucky enough to sit in the outdoor gazebo covered in grape vines. It's located in a strip mall, a little odd, but we gave it a shot. The pancakes were amazing, the veggie omelette delicious and we all loved the red wine sangria. We will definitely be back.

Always a great meal! Wonderful presentation, tastes great, and priced right. The Sangria is incredible. And, the servers have an incredible sense of kindness for their customers...

Eclectic and wonderful as other TA members said! We loved the ambiance and they were kind and gave us their best outdoor table. Sitting under the vine laced arbor, we shared a flight of mimosas - orange, pomegranate, tangerine, ginger basil lavender and Adams served in small mason jars. My favorite was definitely the tasty and fragrant ginger lavender. As we had dinner plans later for a more heavy Italian meal, we shared a turkey sandwich and side salad. The turkey was freshly roasted and the thinly sliced apples, Swiss and cucumbers add that extra taste and crunch.

I had the veggie roll and cast iron apple pancake.Both were godly delicious! Will surely come back for either happy hour or dinner.Its worth the wait.

My friend highly recommended this place, so we came for "happy hour" after a Sunday Symphony Matinee. Parking was easy on Adams or a side street but limited in the lot in front of the building. The Happy Hour menu gives 4 items for $21, and portions are generous, so that is a meal for 2 or more unless you're a lumberjack ! Two of us shared the roasted brussel sprouts (awesome flavors), a fondue with bread & crudites, a chicken pie that was different & better than imagined and something else delicious with blue cheese sprinkled on top. Wish I'd have taken better photos, as the presentation was out of a Bon Appetite cover story! Our server was attentive and personable and I'll absolutely be taking folks to this location whenever possible.

Food is amazing and obviously made with love. Sweet restaurant with homemade Sangria lining the walls. Not a tourist trap - this was made by people who take obvious care in their craft. I was enjoying a staycation within my hometown and found this gem. Truly a special place.

Two locations for cafe 21, this review is on the Adams avenue location. Menu is different and more limited than downtown. Parking is challenging at this location because you have to find parking on the street. Service is poor. We arrived around 0830, seated right away but it seemed like only one waited until about 10am. Waited a while for coffee order and refills but coffee is nice and strong. Then waited for waiter to come back and take our order so order and food took a while. Food was good but a bit on the salty side for my taste. Water tastes like bad tap water. Setting is cute but I don't see myself going back to this location.

We visited cafe 21 during a getaway to San Diego and it was incredible! They have indoor and outdoor seating and at 9:30am on Sunday morning we were seated without a wait (although parking is non-existent as with much of San Diego). The menu is quite large and there are many unique items to choose from. I chose the prosciutto skillet and my husband had the chicken sandwich. We both loved our meals! The prices are very reasonable for what you receive. My skillet was $14 for what seemed like 5 eggs, a hefty portion of prosciutto, mushrooms, tomatoes, and a side of fruit. I could have easily split this meal with someone and been full! I also tried a pomegranate mimosa which was okay but I probably wouldn't order again. My husband had the pineapple coconut water and it was like heaven. I highly recommend it. Bonus, many of the items on the menu are all natural or organic! We would definitely go back here! The only thing I would say negative is the bathroom is creepy in a dark hallway with one lightbulb and doesn't seem the cleanest. The rest of the restaurant is very open with lots of natural lighting and if you can avoid the loo, it's perfect! I really loved the wine rack up high on the wall. Very unique idea!

i was a little hesitant pulling up to this restaurant, it's located in a strip mall along Adams Ave. They have indoor and outdoor dining, a cute little gazebo out front covered in grape vines and leaves at the right time of year. Service was friendly and informative, she offered great suggestions for out first time. Definitely will be back, or maybe we'll check out their other location downtown. loved the food, but eating outside in a parking lot wasn't the prettiest of views...

I heard about cafe 21 from a friend so I decided to check it out. I decided to check out the location on Adam Avenue and I wasn't disappointed. The service was quick( I came on a Thursday at 11:30m) and food was amazing.... I had their famous shrimp corn cakes! I love food and I'm VERY picky so me saying Amazing is pretty big! Check out cafe 21, you will love it!

Superb food, excellent service, great atmosphere! Potato gallette and glazed Brussels sprouts to die for. Chicken wings raised to an art form.

If you enjoy a great atmosphere, great explosions in your mouth, this is it. The chef knows culinary arts. His creations are never the same. The menu changes daily. All fresh ingredients.

Went there with my family, location is nice & there is a parking close by. Staff are very friendly, food is good & they do it the way like..crowded but nice..

took about 10 minutes to get the attention of a server. 10 more minutes to get drinks. Bloody Mary's were terribly watery. Couldn't drink it. Over 50 minutes to get food. I couldn't even stomach the lamb omelet. Kept finding surprises in the meat. Not to mention, they don't know how to poach a simple egg. Chips were over saturated and looked in oil that was obviously not hot enough. And could barely hear anyone talking at our table because of the extremely loud music. Asked nicely more than once to turn it down just a bit but no luck. I didn't realize that we were attending a concert at 10am. Bottom line... Go somewhere else.

Fantastic fennel four cheese fondue , heavenly fried veggies ( including outrageous slices of avocado )to dip in chortle aioli, creative salads and microbrews . Perfect for people watching in the gaslamp district

We chose this restaurant because we thought the plates others were eating looked good when walking past and it didn’t disappoint. We arrived around 10:00 and didn’t have to queue for a table although by the time we left there was a pretty big queue. Both my husband and I had cast iron omelettes he had the Steak which he said was delicious and I had the feta, as pumpkin is out of season it was supplemented for spaghetti squash which I enjoyed but think it would be even better with the honey glazed pumpkin. The coffee, ginger beer mimosas and service - all fab too.

Good food (if a little expensive), kind staff, and a great open-air atmosphere combined to make this a very enjoyable restaurant for my wife and I during our short stay in San Diego. Highly recommended if you are in the area.

We were Instantly attracted to Cafe 21 on passing with it's buzz and busy atmosphere. The staff on entry were all very friendly and accommodating and the whole Cafe itself has a modern and stylish vibe. We had the banana and walnut pancakes which were a perfect size and tasted wonderful. My father had steak omelette with fruit which he loved!! We liked it so much we returned the following morning for a second breakfast and the staff remembered us as an English family which was lovely. The service was faultless puts English restaurant service very much to shame. Thoroughly recommend!!

Finally got to try this place. Both times I went we were told there was a 20 minute wait, but we were seated after only 10 minutes. The restaurant is very cute and I like the atmosphere. The first time I got the strawberry french toast, which was fantastic!! My friend got the salmon diamonds, which I stole a bite of. Very very good! His also came with a big side of fruit. In addition, I got a cappucino which I was impressed with. Service was perfect. Second time I got proscuitto crepes. They were also very good, although I liked the french toast better. My friend got the salmon diamonds again and was told it did not come with fruit, whichhe would have to pay for. Strange, because last time it came with the fruit. I got a cappucino again which came in a totally different mug and was very different. Definitely liked my first one better. Service was fine, but I did see our drinks sitting behind us for several minutes. I would have given 5 stars if not for the inconsistencies. The cappucino, the sides, and the service were all very different when I went 2 weeks later. But the food was fantastic and I will be going back soon.

Food is unique and fresh and there great cocktail options. BUT . . . .while we expect to wait for a table on the weekends - in this case, 45 minutes - once we were seated, we waited almost as long for just our drinks !! There are no munchies put on the table to tide guests over until the drinks and food arrive. We ordered two regular bloody marys, and it literally took 20 minutes to get them. It took another 20 minutes after that for our food to arrive. Cafe 21 has a fabulous drink menu, so you think the would have bar staff to accommodate their busy weekend drink orders-there was only one bartender working - they needed three! We will try the down town location next time, as the food and drink options are good.

Had a quick dinner there before going to Java Joe's for some great music. The waitress was helpful without being intrusive, and the other server was . . . simply ebullient! We started with a round of beer and wine and my wife got the wrong wine (by the glass, a little hard to tell), but the server, without us even asking, brought her another glass of wine. We had a variety of flat bread items, and a stuffed chicken breast (that was the best I have ever had). The server accidentally served the meat flatbread to the vegetarian and was very apologetic and brought us a nice desert item to share. This was my second visit--the first time I had lunch about a year ago and it was a huge sandwich and very good. Anyway, it gets very busy there, but the quality of the food and service makes it worth it.

Stopped by to have dinner the night before Thanksgiving. Although the place was basically empty we were greeted with open arms. My friend and I decided to try their Short Ribs, and Stuffed Cabbage. Both were excellent. We had also ordered flat-bread, bellisimo, and a bottle of wine. Cafe 21 has a large selection of good bottled wines. The whole evening was great and the atmosphere very relaxing. I highly recommend Cafe 21 for just a night out, or a romantic dinner.

We were just walking around and found this restaurant. We noticed there was a small line outside, so we figured it must be good. The wait was only about 5-10 minutes, and it was worth it! The short rib skillet omelet was amazing! The coffee was really great, too! I will be back!

We came late (9 people), but the staff made their best to get us a table. Service was then fast and food was good, even though a little bit salty. Wine was also good.

When the description of this quirky spot says "eclectic" it's dead on. Really interesting food choices, some different than I've tried elsewhere (fried avocado, mushroom and eggplant "fries" yummm!). I got a chicken dish as an entree which was very good but my true delight was in the crepe side my family shared. Another highlight: flights! I love doing drink flights because you have an opportunity to try multiple things, Cafe 21 is the spot!! I got a sangria flight but on the menu you could also have done a mojito flight and a lemonade flight if you aren't drinking. What a fun option. Thus, this is definitely the place if you want to try something new!

We were headed to another restaurant when this review popped up calling the restaurant comfortable and delicious. They were right ! The decor is magical and whimsical, the food was a delectable and the service was personable, friendly and efficient. I also can’t recommend enough the loveliness of a Sangria station with multiple choices of beverage beautifully displayed. We tried the banana foster Dutch pancakes, the turkey eggs Benedict and the salmon diamond omelette. My only negative would be the food servings are very large, there is only one bathroom, and we weren’t able to go twice during our visit !

I had a seasonal salad, beautifully presented on a wooden board and a very large portion. There were some not very common ingredients in the salad which made it very nice and one of the best salads I have ever had.

We were staying for a couple of nights nearby and this was the first place we came across while out for an afternoon walk to the shops. We popped in for a quick drink and the staff were lovely, the place had a really nice chilled out atmosphere. We watched some food come out of the kitchen and it looked amazing, however we needed to leave and regrettably we didn't go back. If we ever go back to San Diego we will definitely pop in again, thank you.

Just loved this place so much that we went back for a second visit. From the décor (re-claimed urban with vintage twists) to the fresh and zesty menu this café is such a fun place to be. We choose the strawberry salad, lamb omelette, raspberry lemonades, carrot and ginger juice...all delicious. The Saturday brunch crowd gave the place a great atmosphere. A fab find in our short stay in San Diego.

not much more to say...they were fantastic. I had the steak and my buddy had the scallops...both were great!

Been here a few times with my mom and it is always an adventure for the palate. Very relaxing place with comfortable indoor and outdoor seating. Specials are always great. :)

I imagine it would also be amazing for dinner. The food was wonderful and the presentation great. Would love to return for a romantic dinner some time.

The food was very tasty but also arrived before our drinks. The restaurant was not full but it took the staff a really long time to get our drinks and we just ordered iced tea. There were in total 10 employees walking around. So ... food 5 points ... service 1 !!!

One of my favorite places, mostly go for breakfast, try dinner couple weeks ago and love it, must visit for happy hour, $4 delish tapas and sangria. Organic local seasonal food. Service is great friendly and cute.

Be careful with parking. There is a lot right next to Cafe 21 but it belongs to the liquor store. Street parking can be tight. My wife had really great Brussels sprouts and the good pulse salad. I had very good beef kabob. The sides were plentiful and tasty the meat was a little tough. We had a discount card and that worked. We enjoyed the food and the interior. We will return.

We went to visit a friend who lives near Adams Avenue which is where this restaurant is located. We had a fantastic lunch. We tried the duck wings which are great they fried artichokes which were delicious, The mac & cheese which is phenomenal, the tea where you can steep yourself and then using the filter system put in your own glass or mug mug. The waitress was super friendly and helpful and I would go back in a heartbeat. Interesting and delicious beer choices as well. Price point was pretty good too. Deafly give it a try

Mimosa flight was amazing! And every meal our family of 4 had was fantastic--bread pudding Benedict, tiramisu pancakes, prosciutto crepes--al fresco!

This is our new "go to" place. An interesting menu, good wine selection and an informed and helpful staff.

Wonderful restaurant with a delightful eating environment! Plants, garden decor and soft pillows invite you in and then once seated the wait staff is extremely helpful. We had 2 young children with us and they got our order in quickly before another large party of at least 12 placed their orders. Our waiter recognized that with 2 children the wait would be very long and the children would become impatient. Very astute and considerate on his part. Then the food is delicious with gluten free options and vegetarian options, plus your regular dietary dishes. The menu has something for everyone. I highly recommend!!

Either under one roof for the main dining room or in the outdoor patio area, you can experience it all, yes, "all the right stuff": gluten-free, creative, International items and especially, fresh organic vegetables. On the patio, we were served by the Double K team: Kat and Kolbe. What a late-afternoon feast of tasty tapas: chicken crepes, chicken curry and chicken kabobs! Wine is served close to the building and in the main dining room, but not out in the patio area itself. Parking is confusing. There are so many signs that it should not be confusing, for the parking lot is only for patrons of the attached liquor store. Still, "to your health" and enjoying "all the right stuff," Cafe' 21 should be on everyone's dine-out bucket list!

The breakfast was delicious. Had the strawberry crepes they were to die for. The Orange juice was freshly squeezed.

Solid brunch food & beautifully crafted drinks albeit a bit pricey. Arrived Sat 8:15 am and took last of the few designated parkings for Cafe 21. Opted for outdoor dining which was spacious. The blueberries Dutch baby ($14) was fantastic: thin crust with slight burns on the edges, eggy & savory. Veggie power bowl ($14) was solid. The dishes were in small to medium portions which I like. Trained Dragon ($10) was an IG worthy drink though the expresso flavor was lost amidst all the exotic ingredients. Fast & friendly service, its also dog & flies friendly. Table fly fans kept the latter at bay.

Had a late lunch here with a party of 6. The staff couldn't have been more friendly and accommodating! There were so many good choices on the menu, it was hard to choose. I had the chicken curry cakes which came with a poached egg on each. Very delicious! Someone in our party had the vegetable cakes and while they were good, we all agreed the curry cakes were better. Even though it was a pretty casual restaurant, it was just a little pricey, but I still would recommend.

Really cute place, great drinks. If you are into organic, local produce, this is the place to have your breakfast/brunch/lunch. Great dishes, not just eggs and pancakes, many choices.

I had heard about this restaurant on Yelp. I navigated and walked to this cafe from the Marriott where we were staying. There was seating outside, but all tables were full. Since I was alone, I opted to sit inside. Service was very attentive. I ordered the grilled pear salad. This was probably the best lunch I had during our 4 days in San Diego. The pears were grilled perfectly and served over mixed greens, goat cheese and nuts (I forget what kind). The homemade viniagrette that topped this off was so tasty and just complemented the other salad ingredients beautifully. Yum!

After a hard days work, we stopped for happy hour at this quaint corner shop. We beat the dinner rush and missed the live music, but the double martini and tapas board was delicious and a relaxing end to our day! We ordered dinner entrees, but were too full to finish them. All the food had full flavor and was prepared fresh!

Had supper here and it was fresh and fantastic. We sat on the patio and enjoyed watching the city walk by. Our waitress was attentive and the overall service was good. The food was wonderful...I had the flatbread and it was one of the best I've ever eaten. The crust was light and toppings plentiful. I would definitely return.

Having heard about Café 21 it was time to visit during San Diego pride week. This place is alternative and seems like that's the focus. Food is not bad - however nothing to write home about, really. 7 out of 10 if I'm generous. Decent crepes. What makes this a no-go is the outstandingly lousy service. Lots of staff, yet no one seemed to have skills in the industry. Many examples: Waiters had dirty nails. Food took ages, the warm sandwich and potato cake were cold when reaching the table. When pointing it out I was offered a new potato cake but it took so long I had finished the rest when it finally came in. A total of four waiters served us, still nothing worked out for them. +Plus to the server that deducted 12(?)% of the bill for all the inconvenience. However before I could sign the bill it took no more than four different pens before finding one that worked, this mishap is the perfect description of Café 21. They want it to work and sure they try, but it's not enough. This is clearly a hyped place, created for the a clearly alternative crowd mainly for them to have a place that they feel comfortable in - food and service have gotten much less attention.

This is usually a great spot, and surprisingly on Easter Sunday we were sat almost immediately, parking was close, and everything seemed good. Service was slow. Our order was completely wrong when it came out to the table. The server made excuse after excuse for what happened. The sever also talked across tables to his customers. Coffee and water were not refilled frequently either. Food quality was great. Normally a much better experience.

Love Love Love the atmosphere. Very relaxing on a Sunday morning. I had the tomatoes and eggs and it was delicious. It was so hot I had to let it cool. My husband had the lamb kafka omelette and said it tasted great. Our server was very helpful with suggestions or answering questions we had. If the coffee is a sign of a good restaurant then this passed the test.

This place is really good! I have only been here for brunch, but there is something on the menu for everyone. My favorite is the stuffed strawberry French toast. It's perfectly cooked and stuffed with strawberries and I think mascarpone cheese. You should definitely get a side of potato pancake which is shredded potatoes and I think Parmesan cheese baked into a hash brown. Very good! There bloody Mary's and sangria are also delicious! I will say that this place isn't consistent. There have been times where I've been here and ordered the exact same thing and it was just underwhelming. It didn't taste as seasoned or cooked as well. But when it's good, it's really good. Definitely worth it!

We had several business lunches and breakfast meetings and every one was great. Superb fresh ingredients en very kind staff!

We had brunch at this location on a Monday morning and it was fantastic. Sitting out in the sunshine on the patio (but not too bright with all the lovely foliage and flowers decorating the place) was a fantastic way to spend some time. Our pancakes and omelets were fresh, innovative, tasty and quite filling. Best of all was the non-stop refills of coffee. Exactly how I take my brunch, thanks!

We had a fabulous Sunday brunch here today! From the gracious check-in process to the attentive and kind wait staff, the spot on decor to the amazing teas and breakfast options, everything was just perfect from start to finish! I recommend the prosciutto crepe and the chai teas and the flavored lemonade. We can’t wait to go back to try other options including some interesting looking bloody Mary’s!

Enjoyed breakfast with friends here. We arrived just after opening, so we didn't have to wait. When we left (around 11) there were at least 8 people waiting for a table. Menu is quite large and has good variety. A lot of nice twists on typical breakfast. We had their version of eggs benedict, a spinach omelette that was wrapped around cured salmon. Everything is very colorful, beautifully presented, and in hearty portions. The fruit side dish was very generous! Tasty food, tasty drinks, reasonable prices and very friendly and attentive staff make this place a great choice!

I had breakfast here while on a trip to attend the Patriots Chargers game. I recommend the Farm Plate, eggs, filet, salmon, vegetables, fruit--all extremely fresh and good. The service was great as well.

This cafe was probably the best brunch I have ever had! I highly recommend the tiramisu pancakes..oh my gosh, they were delicious!! Our server was very friendly and we loved the outside seating. Highly recommend!

A great little gem! Had the Prosciutto Eggs Benedict and French Toast and both were great! Coffee was delicious, as well. Need to try one of the awesome looking Bloody Mary's next time for sure! Service was okay, not great by any means. It was busy in there, so we had to get their attention to get anything besides our food when it came. A matter of experience though, so we could have gotten someone new. No worries. Suggest you think about giving a military discount though. Pretty disappointed about that. Especially for being a local gem... Thank you for the great food and we'll be back! Hopefully with you supporting the local military next time...

My partner and I went there for what we hoped would be a unique brunch experience. The wait was only 25 minutes (not bad) but when we were seated we realized the restaurant had no AC, which made it uncomfortable. The drinks were quite good, but a little pricey. The food was not exciting. It was really just average good with a nice presentation. My omelette was actually a frittata and the water from the tomatoes collected at the bottoms. The prosciutto portion was not generous. The turkey crepes were bland. The service however was pleasant. We won't be back.

My friend and I had lunch at this little place on Adams Ave. The service was excellent, food very good as we sat in the patio on a beautiful day.

Happy Hour every day begins at 3PM, till 6PM. The offer a delicious assortment of Tapas,one better than the other. Great assortment of Sangria's, and Teas. Desserts are very good. Its open for Breakfast,Lunch and Dinner. The staff is very friendly and the food very creative and delicious.

This Uptown hidden neighborhood treasure is worth the hunt... I've frequented this family-owned spot for years. The garden patio (newly expanded) is lovely. The menu offers a wide range of inspired and attractively presented plates; from breakfast to dinner-- traditional favorites and delightfully creative fare; original soft drink options to creative adult beverages... all crafted with natural ingredients, and love. The service is friendly and attentive. The Gaslamp location has the same offerings.... plus the hustle and bustle of downtown.

If you are looking for a great place for breakfast or brunch in North Park or in San Diego in general (if you're willing to drive around), then you have to tryout Cafe 21 in North Park. They also have another location in downtown San Diego, but I feel that has a different vibe than the one one Adam's avenue. They have a great selection of dishes for every taste, from omelettes in cast iron skillets, Crepes, French toast and their own version of eggs benedicts that they call Cakes. What I love about the food here is that the portions are just about right. Some other breakfast/brunch places give huge portions which are impossible to finish, but at Cafe 21 the portions are possible to finish. Also, they have great Mimosas that are reasonably priced. I mean who doesn't want a Mimosa with their breakfast. Parking is a bit of a pain to find since they have a tiny parking lot which is shared with the liquor store. But if you drive around you should be able to find a spot on the street. They do take reservations so if it's a sunny day, give them a call and try to get a spot on the patio.

Expect a long wait for drinks and food. Friendly just slow. Food is very tasty. Madonna mule wasn't good. Chocolate cake was good but reminded me of what comes out of an easy bake oven as a kid (not an insult).

Great Place for Brunch, Fast take out service. The menu has lots of choices, I would recommend the Monte Cristo Sandwich. As we were waiting for our take out order all the dishes we saw looked great. The staff is friendly and Take Away Time excellent

Excellent blueberry pancakes with strawberry and kiwi sauce on the side. I haven't had pancakes that good since i can remember. The perfect amount of food. However I felt the need for a little protein and ordered a side of prociutto - the waiter brought me three times the amount of meat than what was included in my friend's omlet! He barely charged for it too. My friends and I had a 15 minute wait on a Sunday morning, but it was worth it.

We were walking through downtown looking for diner when we got lost and when asking where the diner was they said don't go there, go to Café 21. Being locals, we had to take their advise. We were so glad that we did. It was wonderful. I got the French toast and the sourdough bread was thick and homemade. It was so great with a Christmas like red and green jelly beside it with wonderful syrup. The husband asked what is the most asked for breakfast and she said the shrimp corn balls. He was blown away. Who wants the same breakfast when you can try something different and wonderful. At first there was only my husband and I and another business table and so we were a little taken back, then I thought, we eat earlier than most people (8:00 am) and so there wasn't that many people there. So glad that we took the locals advice.

What a wonderful restaurant! We had delicious sangria and wonderful meals. The staff were very informative about the food and it was ordered exactly as ordered. Can't wait to recommend this quaint restaurant to others!

My wife and I have enjoyed eating at this restaurant. Brunch is great so as its happy hour of Tapas. They serve and make different types of sangrias.

A stop here was a MUST on our second trip to San Diego. It was absolutely as good, if not better than the first time a year ago. Worth the short wait for a table and SO incredibly amazing! If I could have eaten every meal there it wouldn’t have been enough!

We have eaten here a couple of times. We like staying Downtown so we come to Cafe 21 for a very good meal. It is very consistent. The different menu is a little tricky but once explained exactly what your meal will consist of it totally makes it easier. We have had great, good and so-so service here but definitely have gone back.

saw positive reviews so met some 4 colleagues at this place on a recent Fri after work. Its tucked away next to a liquor store but the space inside is warm, inviting and intimate (meaning small). Their tapas and drink menu goes till 6 so we got straight down to business. chicken, beef/veggie skewers, avocado/eggplant fries with aioli, a turkish meatball, sauteed mixed veggies, and a few others that were tasty but escape this aging memory. pitcher of jalapeno pineapple sangria for $10 sounded great but was bit weak. Servers were cheery, attentive and helpful with suggestions. We ended up splitting 2 entries - a T-giving turkey plate and a grilled steak salad which were both devoured. We ended staying over 2 hours but were never rushed or given the evil eye. Another plus. Definitely recommended.

The food of this place was great, the service was exceptional and the ambiance is wonderful, but for the price of the food it should be. Brunch was great here if you are looking for a chic place to eat in Downtown SD.

I went here for brunch with my friends on our first morning in San Diego. the servers were very friendly. We changed our table twice because of the sun and the servers did not mind at all. The food was magnificent. the Tiramisu pancake is one of their most famous dishes. I also recommend the omelet served goat meat and goat cheese. I didn't try any drinks because I had coffee earlier that morning but for sure I'll try their tea or wine next time.

We went for breakfast onour last day in San Diego. Between the Mimosa flight, the delectable lemon crapes, and out-of-this-world French toast My tastebuds were sad when the food was gone. Needless to say, I wish we had found this place on the first day we were there so we could try everything on the menu!!

Food was out of this world, service was great!! Just so beautiful and very quaint!!! Could eat there everyday!! Jacob was our server and just so personable and caring to our needs!! Wish I had one in my neighborhood !!

Service was slow, fondue was not hot. Gazpacho was very tasty infused with beets. Beef and potato appetizer was dried out. I wouldn't go back

After looking at reviews and pictures we decided to stop in for a bite to eat. Small place that was very crowded. We got a table right away but it was in a tiny outside corner with another table almost on top of us. It is right next to a random liquor store so we had ppl walking by us in and out the entire meal. Food choices were interesting. The avocado, egg plant, mushroom fries were amazing! I would recommend them. My sea bass was good but served whole, so i ended up picking bones out of mouth all nigh. My wifes spaghetti squash and shrimp was.........interesting. I would def stay away from that one. All in all the food choices were unique, location of table and restaurant just kind of killed it for us.

Went on a Saturday around 3PM. For happy hour they offer "tapas", Large Selection, Very Dificult to choose, all of them are very appealing, the ones we has where delicious, and the portions generous, we shared 4 between mi wife and myself, and as much as we wanted to have desert, that where very tempting, we just couldn't eat more. Cafe 21 has another place in 5th Ave. In the Gaslamp district, Downtown San Diego. Just the last comment, the service was impeccable!

Very nice place to have a lunch or dinner. I love the decoration. They have a small yard in front. My favorite table is that one with vine trellis above, very romantic in the evening with the candles. The food is delicious. You can try Turkish dishes like kufte or cheese fondue.

Menu changes very often but always is a pleasant surprise,. beverages are great and very original, great assortment of Teas. Be sure to order the Potato Chips, made in house from scratch, and not always listed in the menu,but is worth to ask your server if they can prepare them for you. Several Lamb dishes, if you like it its a excellent choice.Deserts are totally sinful. The best: are open for breakfast,lunch and dinner.

Just a few blocks from our Airbnb was this trendy and beautiful restaurant where we went for brunch. My family of four split three dishes, and they were delicious! The portions were large, and we ate almost every bite. My personal favorite was the tomato skillet, which was a special. The fresh-squeezed juices are a must, as well. Even though previous reviews mention bad service, we had a very pleasant experience with our waitress. She was sweet and had a great sense of humor. Two other notes: I would recommend walking if you can because the parking lot is mostly blocked off for the liquor store next door. Also, outdoor seating is probably the way to go. There are fans and flowers--a great environment. Inside was a bit too warm for us.

The reviews were off the chart so we came here for brunch recently. We weren't all that hungry so we shared a large stack of pancakes but asked for the fruit on the side. Admittedly we changed their "creation", but the pancakes were only ok. Frankly, our homemade ones were better. There were several other menu items that sounded amazing so if we go back, we'll try those. The service was fine and the decor was charming so overall it was a good experience - we just ordered the wrong dish - and didn't try the sangria...

The decor is a bit tired and the service isn’t great speed wise. Looks like they couldn’t quite handle a moderate rush. Loads of staff though. My food was great however, but I saw more than one person send back cocktails or food. Wouldn’t go back but not awful. Prob better places near by.

We quite enjoyed our dinner at Cafe 21. The food was fresh and the choices all appeared to be healthy. We shared a salad (big) and cabbage rolls. Would have gone back again if we had stayed longer.

On a long layover in San Diego a dear friend picked up Charming Bride and myself from the airport and took us to breakfast at Cafe21. Cafe21 is a short drive from the airport, and made for more casual talking than driving on our layover. There was some minor road construction in the area, but it was not any impact on the drive. Parking was fairly easy, and was the greatest issue with the drive as parking was consumed with the construction work. The Cafe is nice in its appearance, the tables clean, and the windows let in ample morning light. Our server, a pretty young woman was most knowledgeable about the menu and special items that could be had. Charming Bride had one of several skillet breakfasts, hers was a veggie omelet and I had meaty one. Both were ample and filing. The coffee was very good. We both gave it a thumbs up, and voted to return when we were back I. San Diego. I picked up the tab because I am a wonderful human being, the fact that I got kicked under the table by not so charming bride was utterly beside the point, I would have done so gladly, as the atmosphere was very amenable to polite conversation without the brain damaging thump of overly loud music that seems to be the trend lately. I thought the price was more than fair for the food, service, and atmosphere. The parking in the private lot, while handy was the value of one full breakfast item we enjoyed, had more time been available then a block or so walk would have shaved that down a lot. It was a very nice place to eat a great breakfast, there are many menu items to explore that are not the ordinary fare.

Unfortunately, we did not have reservations for dinner at 4:50pm. Who knew the waitress who greeted us like a Doberman pincher would ruin the experience of our most favorite restaurant in San Diego! We understand that she didn't know we frequent the location on Adams Ave at least 2-3 times during every visit we make to San Diego. We understand that she had a reservation in 75 minutes and our was limited. We wouldn't have asked for a table of we knew it would be so much trouble! When the manager offered to seat the 5 of us, we accepted because it was out last night and we wanted to experience the wonderful food and service we normally get at Cafe 21. Instead, we were treated like intruders and not like guests by the same waitress who rudely greeted us. There really is no excuse for this kind of behavior. We hope Cafe 21 can remedy this situation and return to the factastic place it once was. There is too much competition in the San Diego restaurant market make these costly business mistakes.

Great food here - happy hour has a lot of reasonably priced and tasty options. Especially love the portobello mushroom fries and the spinach/feta/pesto crepe. A nice selection of beers on tap. Dinners are excellent as well - the lamb is slow roasted all day so really tender and the spaghetti squash with shrimp is outstanding. Have always had good service here. One of my favorite places!

The service was very poor. The food is absolutely excellent!! Love the small portions. They are very touch less friendly. The menu uploads on your phone. Staff friendly. The service was poor so we did see several people leave

We were looking for a place to have breakfast and stumbled upon Café 21. So glad we did. The bloody marys were amazing! Some were a whole meal they had veggies and a cheese sandwich on top. The food was also great. I would definitely recommend Café 21 for breakfast or brunch.

Located in Gaslamp, popular place! includes outdoor and indoor seating. Food was good, lots to choose from. Amazing looking menu of bloody mary's! Service was quick and courteous. Nice looking place, Appears to attract both locals and tourist. Price point in $10-$20.

Went for breakfast. Great food, it was busy and the food still came quickly. Service was good and friendly. Stopped in at random and glad we need.

Enjoyed a wonderful meal for NYE. Delicious organic food, the short ribs and the scallop entrees were great. Service was excellent, a little slow to get food but it was NYE so not a problem. Great spot to watch the reveled walking by.

The curbside patio and light-fare menu attracted me to this restaurant. It has that farm-to-table, organic vibe that's so popular. I asked if I could sit outside and found myself a table on the far end of the patio. For the first 20 minutes I waited for someone to acknowledge that I was even there. No water, no hellos, nothing. My waiter was very attentive to the table beside me who were entertaining his dreams of opening a restaurant. Maybe it was because I was eating alone - regardless, he was not concerned about me one bit. Right before I stood to leave, he stops by and takes my order and I also ask for a water. Still no water. I actually received my food and, only after asking that person for water, did I get water. Seriously horrible service that never got better. The salad I ordered was refreshing and the blend of flavors was just right. The chef showed creativity by adding kettle corn to the salad which I liked. I also enjoyed the mixed drink and wanted to try another but was unable to get anyone to take my order for a second. In that respect, no one even asked me how my meal was. I cleaned my plate and was eating the ice cubes in my drink before someone came by to drop off the bill. It's unfortunate that the food and drinks were soured by the service. I finally asked to speak to the manager. The waiter I asked came back a couple of minutes later to tell me the manager wasn't there and was at a sister restaurant down the street and I could visit her there. Seriously!? I had it at that point. I handed over my credit card and just waited to be able to get out of there. Then, one of the lead trainers came to talk to me and after that the manager came by. They were both very apologetic for the service I had received. They insisted on crediting my card with the charge that was just processed and brought over a drink with the receipts. The manager said that she would address the service provided with the waiter. I felt they were sincere. They asked that I give them another shot but I have not been back yet. So, if you go here and have a positive service experience, please share; I would like to see that the service I received was, as the manager insisted, not what they pride themselves on. The food is worth a trip only if future reviews indicate the service has improved.

Reservation for large group made 3 weeks in advance. Plenty of warning for management. Absolutely the worst service I've had in years. The poor waiter didn't have a chance. Clearly terrible restaurant management.

What a wonderful experience on Adams Avenue! The menu is so interesting -- creative without pushing the envelope to incomprehensible or hip for its own sake. Both indoor and outdoor seating. Very friendly and attentive staff, pleasant clientele. We had a mushroom tart to begin with a crust of quinoa and pecorino cheese -- delish! Then each of us had a salad; they were huge and each a well proportioned mix -- of greens and grilled pear/apricot/goat cheese and not-too-sweet dressing and of greens, peppercorn steak, spicier dressing. Then our entrees came -- their specialty scallop dish is as good as advertised and their pork tenderloin tasty. Every item felt special. The wine list looked impressive (altho we don't imbibe)...Will bring friends with good taste here :-) It's not cheap but everything is organic and sustainable -- so glad we found it!!!!

We stopped by the Gaslamp Quarter for lunch and weren't quite sure which restaurant to go for. We ended up picking out Cafe 21, as it looked particularly modern (perhaps the perfect word to describe that modern feel would be "hipster"), healthy, and popular. We happened to be there during their Happy Hour, so my boyfriend's beer was half-price, and we could order 4 small dishes for a relatively good price. We loved all of them! Very authentic and delicious! To end our lunch, we tried their berry cheesecake, which was too good to be true!

Cafe 21 is a little further out from downtown San Diego and you definitely need a car to get there if you are staying in central San Diego, but serves up a great breakfast. When you turn up, and suss out its surroundings, you almost get back in the car to look for another place to eat, but it has certainly well earnt its reviews. Definitely worth a visit if you run out of places to eat at in downtown San Diego.

I have been wanting to try this place for well over a year and today went with my sweetie for V-Day!!! We both had skillet omelets and nothing was left behind except what I took in a to go box for later. This place is really well designed and interesting to the eye. The service was just lovely and the food was IMPRESSIVE!!!!! My egg white skillet omelet was perfection in every bite and I asked the chef to use minimal oil and I could not have been more pleased. And the fruit tasted like it was just piked!!! I am a very picky eater as is my husband and we cannot wait to go back!!!

You never know if bad service when it come to timing is a just a bad day or if it is a everyday thing, but I will say we waited for over 45 mins for our food. They seemed super busy so maybe it was just bad luck. But let's talk food, we had the stuffed french toast, pretty solid, nothing exceptional but we ate every last piece and we had the corn and shrimp Eggs Benedict, again nothing exceptional but I ate it all. My favorite things was the potatoe pancakes.

We were directed to this restaurant by hotel staff for brunch on Sunday morning after attending church. We had a short wait around 11:30 and the four of us were seated inside. Unique menu, not a buffet, for brunch. Two of us had the eggs Benedict with turkey on bread pudding, another had tiramisu pancakes; and another had the specialty French toast. The French toast she said was too sweet. The rest enjoyed their selections. We had: Bloody Mary, Virgin Mary, and Mimosas' which were all good. Wait staff was helpful and attentive as well. Enjoy our experience.

My fiancé and I visited this charming spot for a late brunch on a Saturday afternoon and were able to get seated right away. The ambiance on the patio was delightful, with a rustic charm and abundant greenery that created a cozy, inviting atmosphere. We each started with a beautifully crafted coffee (1 Peas of Mind and 1 Cappuccino). The menu featured an array of small plates, ideal for sharing. With it being just the two of us, we each ordered our own dish (1 Tomato + Egg and 1 Short Rib Omelette) and found the dishes provided more than enough to satisfy our appetites. The quality and presentation of the food were impressive, leaving us eager to return with a larger group to try even more of their delectable dishes. This place is a true gem and perfect for both intimate meals and social gatherings!

Pluses: Nice ambiance Beautiful presentation Minuses Bland food Smallish portions Expensive Would I come here again? Nope.

Went with friends for breakfast, definitely wasn't to my liking. If you like a relatively normal breakfast, then this isn't the place for you. Most "breakfast" menu items quite rich and elaborate, and more conventional and plain breakfast items not really available. Perhaps more suited to a very late breakfast or brunch I elected to go for just eggs and a side order of toast. The eggs were cooked well, but the side order of toast comprised one minuscule (and I mean tiny - crouton sized almost) piece of sour dough toast. It was served on a battered looking piece of oblong metal masquerading as a plate. It truly resembled a vehicle registration plate that had been left in the middle of a busy highway for a few weeks. Using metal cutlery on this created squeaking and scraping noises. The toast was rock hard (like a crouton!) and cutting it required some effort as the twisted metal 'plate' span and moved on the table. It was ridiculous. Salt and Pepper to season the eggs was not provided on the table. We asked for some but unfortunately it didn't arrive so I had to eat them unseasoned. Friends requested tomato ketchup which didn't arrive either until 2/3rds of the food had been eaten. Orange juice was a thin kind and didn't taste particularly 'fresh'. For the price paid it should be freshly squeezed. Friends spiced chai coffee/tea arrived in a very elaborate plastic filtering device. It's use wasn't explained and on refilling her cup, it overflowed onto the table and floor. Style and "theatre" over substance. Bloody Mary cocktails are advertised as being "photogenic" and indeed so they were... The garnish rose as high as the glass and included a large slice of crisp bacon. Friends ordered omelettes which were served on wooden boards. Perhaps I'm old fashioned, but I really don't like food served on wooden plates, or pieces of metal. Both become scratched and pitted and particularly in the case of a wooden board deep scratches form and although I have heard from friends who are professional chefs about the alleged 'self sanitising' properties of some wood plates, it may look trendy and contemporary but it's still to me unappetising. The omelettes were generously filled and exceptionally rich so that they couldn't finish them. Balsamic glaze had been poured as a garnish onto another friends plate, and this didn't pair well with her delicately flavoured entree. I generally thought it was style over substance. I agree ketchup bottles on the table are absolutely not appropriate, but salt and pepper are essential - what a chef considers to be acceptably seasoned may not suit his diners palates. It's a great place, the staff were really friendly and helpful, nice front terrace area, but I left hungry! I'd revisit for a morning coffee perhaps, but not sure I'd dine here again.

I made reservations for a business dinner based on reviews and being near our hotel. I was a little nervous when I saw it was next to a liquor store but it turns out, there was no need to worry. The food is delicious! We started with the crispy Brussel sprouts and the the mushroom flatbread. I like my flatbreads a little crispier but it was still good, the brussel sprouts were delicious. I ordered the curry scallops for my entry and they were cooked to perfection. One of my colleagues had the spaghetti squash with shrimp and she said it was the best spaghetti squash she had in years. The lamb and chicken also got rave reviews from colleagues. I was a little disappointed with the sangria which is one of their specialties, it was very bland tasting to me. The staff was great. Glad I took a chance on Cafe 21.

Went to Café 21 for lunch. This café has a very nice shady outdoor eating area along the sidewalk. I had the chicken pesto sandwich with homemade potato chips. Both were very good. The service was excellent. They also provide purse trees to keep your purse off of the concrete.

For lunch it was a big meal and messy. There was good service. The food has is OK but big for a small meal.

My family and I went for the first time to this restaurant to have dinner and we loved it! Everybody had something different and we were delighted with all our dishes. Salad with grilled pear was soo good, also the tandoori vegetables, I had a grilled sea bass that melted in my mouth. My daughters had turkey burgers and loved them. My husband had a kabob platter and even tough was abundant he almost ate it all. They have a very good selection of hot and cold loose leaf teas. Good service also.

I’m obsessed with this place, my fiancé I went for breakfast a week ago and this review is long overdue. We got the shortrib of omelette and banana foster, both heavenly! Our server was so sweet and absolutely hysterical. He had us cracking up and having such a good time. Can’t wait to go back!

Wow stumbled upon a great whole in the wall as they say. This restaurant doesn't look special from the outside as a matter of fact this is an easy to drive by not so pretty restaurant in a strip mall next to liquor store. Didn't expect to find Bloody Mary's made from fresh yellow tomatoes with Prosciutto in the glass. Yum. Partner had a great salad and I had crepes. I can't wait to go back and check it our for happy hour. Fresh ingredients and unique take on good food. Go!

Got many sharing plates and there was ample delicious, creative food to share with colleagues over good beer and clever cocktails. Went twice in one weekend!

Was very disappointed. We had the Sangria sampler. We were only able to drink one of the glasses. The other 5 were less than steller. My husband had an eggplant sandwich and there was only 1/2 piece of eggplant on the entire sandwich. The rest was spinach leaves. I had a form of a monte cristo sandwich. Their version. The turkey was so dry you could not even choke it down. The waitress was great but when we told her we could not drink the Sangria she did not even offer to get us anything else. Would not go back there!

Joined some friends here during a brief visit to San Diego. Each couple split the salmon and spinach omelet and the fruit salad, and we were all blown away by how incredible it was. Definitely will be going back to try something else on the menu (but it sure will be hard not to order the same omelet again!) because I am pretty sure we won't be displeased. Check it out the next time you're in San Diego and want a fantastic breakfast experience.

The hotcakes and the omelette with goat cheese are really good plates. The service is fast but it takes a while for you to get seated. Good for an early meal and to start the day.

My son took my husband and me to breakfast here midweek while we were visiting him. He knows I like farm to table, organic restaurants, and this restaurant fit the bill. The restaurant is in a corner of a small mall which includes a liquor store (which sign you look for to spot this place). It has a several tables outside and several inside. The waitress was very welcoming and informative about the menu. I tried the Kombucha - a fizzy fermented tea/fruit drink served cold. I had never tried it before and was pleasantly surprised at how, after the first sip, refreshing and kind of addictive it is, besides being healthy. I had the strawberry crepes which I inhaled...my husband and son had the iron skillet breakfasts, which they loved. They have a great assortment of hot teas which are served in a tea press type of cup. I'm sure there's a line on the weekends, so if you can, go during the week to dine in a more relaxed setting.

Cool hole-in-the-wall (well, parking lot for outdoor dining) restaurant for a lovely Sunday brunch. The BEST margaritas and a very unique and tasty menu. Lovely wait staff. Only had to park a block away!

We went for a friends birthday and took almost the entire patio, we had a great time. The patio was part of the parking lot, but they did a great job with the decor and use of space. The food is eclectic and very good with a lot if attention to detail. I suggest the ahi towers, potato cakes with short rib (amazing short rib) and the chicken curry cakes! They also have a few amazing sangrias, try all of them!

We were in the area for a week. We ate dinner and it was fantastic. . Came back for breakfast then about half the group did lunch too! Very healthy menu. Have gluten free if needed.

We gave our order to our server and never saw her again. An hour (and most of our bottle of wine) later we flagged another server and asked him to check on our food. Appetizers and entrees arrived all at the same time. The food was delicious! We would go again, with the understanding that we might want to bring our own snacks while we waited for our entrees. We had to practically tackle another server to get our check. What is up with the terrible service when the food is so good?

I love the digs AND the excellent and beautifully presented food. This is where I take anyone visiting me from out of town— I just love Cafe 21’s style, and the service is always friendly and attentive!

DELICIOUS! Came for Saturday brunch and everything my party ordered was phenomenal. The restaurant was beautiful, food was great, the only downside was that the service was slow BUT it was such a minor issue and everything was so good that I didn't mind. Tip: weekend metered parking is free before 10 am, so we didn't have to pay for parking.

We tried this spot because it had good ratings on Yelp. The food was bland the drinks were plain. We kept hoping for the best and order more food and drinks hoping they would taste better but unfortunately it didn't work out that way. We had 3 different mimosas and had no luck, they were flavorless just like the food. For the price and presentation I expectated a satisfying lunch and left still hungry and disappointed. We will not be back, I do not recommend this place. This spot is nothing but a trendy place to visit that's it.

I recently had breakfast at Café 21 with my boyfriend since it's close to his house. I really enjoyed the food. We ordered the braised short rib cast iron omelet as well as the turkey omelet. Both were very good. They are big portions so you may be able to get two meals out of it depending on how hungry you are. We also ordered a bloody Mary and a mulled wine. Both were very good. There is outside and inside seating. The restaurant in University Heights is not very big and there is not a lot of parking space around the area. We parked in the nearby neighborhood. The service was very good and servers were very friendly.

We decided to eat at Cafe 21 and walked from our hotel Pacific Terrace in Pacific Beach. Cafe 21 was a recommendation from the hotel. We were not disappointed. The cafe, which is below a hotel, is located on the boardwalk is very modern and trendy. The service was wonderful and their food was delicious. We had a hummus appetizer, salads and entrees. The drinks were delicious (great bar)! We sat outside and had a wonderful view of the Boardwalk and the ocean. Great for people watching!! A little pricy but you get what you pay for! Not sure if it's good for children with young families...but our family (with teens) loved it.

Can't speak for meals other then breakfast but 4 of us ate at this place the first morning of our stay and came back the second day. Top notch food and service, we all had different items and loved them all.

Because this corner strip mall was placed deeper in its lot, the Cafe 21 folks turned the bleak in-front parking area into a lovely outdoor patio, where we chose to sit on a warm San Diego morning. The service proved friendly, and the pace was relaxed. I chose their version of French Toast, which was more like a walnut loaf served with rich filling: substantial, rich, and satisfying.

Organic, locally sourced food makes for a delicious meal. All menu items are cooked fresh and to order. Small, family owned restaurant. There is also one located in downtown San Diego.

Cafe 21 never stops to amaze me.The food quality,taste and presentation is excellent. The service is friendly and pleasant. I had today their Tomato Skillet,and was delicious. The only negative,is parking,there is none , 99% of the parking spots are reserved for the unfriendly liquor store next door. Street parking available.

We are on vacation and love going out for brunch. Unfortunately, despite the high reviews from other visitors, we were very disappointed with our meal. First of all, they were out of chai tea and pumpkin for an omelet we wanted to order. They also didn't carry any lactose free milk options. For $5, we would have expected fresh squeezed orange juice. Pancakes were hard and dry.

This restaurant is very deceiving on the outside. Step inside and you are in a whole other world! The decor is sort of a boho style....I LOVED it! The waiter was very friendly and attentive once our meals were served. I had the veggie scramble that came with hash browns and salad. It was delicious and a large serving! I had to ask for a doggie bag...which I never, ever do. I would highly recommend this place and I understand that Cafe 21 in the Gas Lamp district has live music most nights. Just wish I lived closer to the Gaslamp, I would be a regular! Cannot wait for my next visit to Cafe 21.

This is the review for the original Cafe 21 - they also have a newer location in downtown, which is also excellent, and perhaps even better since they have a wider cuisine selection there. Cafe 21 offers a blend of American, Azerbaijani and Turkish cuisines, with good lounge music, availability of outdoor seating (not in the downtown location, though), very good service, and some free parking. We have thoroughly enjoyed our breakfast, and it was apparent that everyone else around us was also enjoying it, and seemed like regulars. We will definitely come back if we are even in SD area.

$4 Gourmet Happy Hours appetizers (The best local winebar) that include Steak skewers, Chicken skewers, Avocado Fries, salad, molton chocolate cake, to name a few. I love their breakfast too, as they do omelets in cast iron skillets. The food is gourmet, and damn good. Service is remarkable as they often greet their patrons by name (that personal). Great for date night, or simply wanting to catch up with friends, in an environment that allows conversations to be had.

Very good service and very good brunch. This is a very charming breakfast place near gas lamp quarter. Get the eggs Benedict chicken curry style and a cast iron omelette. Good stuff!

We found this hidden gem and went very early on a week day. There was no wait and the staff was very friendly. The breakfast is Amazing! ! We tried the peach pancakes and potato pancakes, each so delicious! If you are looking for some awesome breakfast food, go here!!!!!!

I've been eating here for years and also the one downtown. I love the food, especially the way the cook vegetables. They have expanded the "garden" which overlooks a parking lot. It is an informal, friendly, funky imaginative place. One of my favorites.

My sister introduced my daughter and I to this restaurant. Love them. Will definitely return there next time we are in town. Great food, great price, great staff.

Cafe 21 is a great place for a meal. Incredible variety, and the prices are pretty good. It has good ambiance, good service and good food. I recommend this place to travelers if you like casual, but delicious dining. I live in San Diego, but have eaten here (breakfast, lunch, and dinner) with friends at times, and at other times with family, including my teenaged grandsons.

That about says it all. I've had lunch there a few times and each one was better than the last. They are open morning, noon and nights presenting an eclectic menu with the freshest ingredients. I have not tried dinner yet, but hear raving reviews. The service can be a tad slow when they're busy.

A funky, earthy, hippy looking/feeling cafe with cute vibes. The food, however, has gone downhill, way down the hill over the last 2 years that I have been going there. the food was wholesome, fresh and tasty, now it is stale and mundane, there are an abundance of drinks on the menu and little food choices. the food comes out haphazardly and ill timed. the kitchen staff needs a good shake up and the menu needs to be reconsidered. Not going back.

This is a restaurant you must go to, we had breakfast and food was great, coffee excellent and service was the best I had whe visiting San Diego. If you like bloody Mary's you will be surprised at the choices. Prices are a bit spending but portions are big.

The eclectic menu makes deciding on just one item difficult. Soups are home made, and all sandwiches are unique using the freshest ingredients. Service was not five star and that is the only reason i did not give it a top rating.

The food here is amazing creative and delicious - very well plated, pleasing to the eye and tasty. Human description cannot do justice and it has to be experienced and tasted in person. I had the short rib omelette which was served in a skillet and it was hearty and delicious. Service was awesome. A great place to hang family and friends. Parking can be a challenge as the restaurant only owned 2 spots in the parking lot shared with a liquor store but there were quite a few side street parking.

Food was excellent. Get there early though because the line gets long after 10. Had the tiramisu pancakes which were amazing. Service was good

Although downtown San Diego leaves a lot to be desired, this place was a fabulous find for two foodies. We began our meal with the veggie fries, which were basically tempura battered assorted vegetables but man were they good. Not greasy at all and the sauces really made the dish! I had the curried scallops for my main course and I highly recommend them. Cooked perfectly! Dessert was the bread pudding which was good, not great.

We ate here on our way to the airport coming home. I can not wait to visit my daughter again so I can go have this delicious food. I had the PLT sandwich and it was phenomenal! Comes with a side, I choose the rosemary potato pancake. My daughter had the shrimp cakes and absolutely loved them. Loved the decorations! It looks like it would be a great dinner place as it has a great looking Sangria bar. Can't wait to return!!!!

I enjoyed the food here so much! We ordered brunch items, strawberry crepes, potato cakes, cocktails. And everything we ate was delicious. But our waitstaff must have been busy or distracted because our service was extremely slow (slow to ask us our order, not just talking bringing the food out) and then a few items we ordered came out incorrectly. I can forgive them this though since what we did finally get was delicious.

Super meal! We ate outside and got to people watch as we enjoyed an absolutely superb meal, from start to finish. Grilled pear salad was delicious as were the curry seared scallops. All were beautiful in presentation and generous in size, though not huge. Great service. Dessert (lemon merengue cake) was a delightful finale.

We were excited to try their mojito flight - - each of us had one with 6 different flavors at $21/each flight. They were pretty average - - only 1 or 2 tasted good. Probably should have stuck to wine and beer. However, the food was very good - - lamb flatbread and the cheese dip was amazing! We sat on the patio and just people watched.

All of the items ordered by our party was enjoyable and delicious. They make some serious Bloody Marys! There was a line outside the restaurant but it didn't take long to be seated. Decently priced and nice atmosphere.

Excellent organic produce! Creative and delicious choices!great value. Try the salmon omelet...sounds odd but is a wonderful start to a busy day. Servers are knowledgeable and friendly. Sat outside and enjoyed the street scene.

Me and my friend found this place on a Sunday morning after a tiresome Saturday night. There was a long queue but didn't took long to have seated. I have discovered authentic breakfast choices while checking menu, and cafe from Peru was also great. I should not forget to mention Mimosas also. I have tried egg with tomatoes which is very similar to Turkish Menemen. Just in the heart of gaslamp and due this location prices are also overrated.

In the heart of San Diego’s über-hip Gaslamp District, Café 21 is a stand-out farm-to-table eatery. They offer many delicious starters, such as the Mixed Fries (avocado, portobello and eggplant, flash fried and served with dipping sauces); the Stuffed Flatbread is a must, packed with beef short ribs and served with a delectable dill aioli. We also recommend the sea bass (which is presented as a whole fish) and the Sangria Braised Beef Short Ribs over house-made pasta. Join me on more adventures at Texaslifestylemag.com.

This place has some fun dishes and drinks. The Mimosa flight is cool and allows you to try different flavors at once. They need to add some more variety if they are going to do flights. Some amazing mimosa has strawberry juice with rose and elderflower or pineapple juice with sour apple. Cleaver, but need to take it to the next level. Like they had a great idea, then didn't follow through. Again, good food and friendly staff.

We had great service and all of the happy hour selections were wonderful. I especially liked the fried mushrooms! I loved my husband's whole fried fish. The sangria samples were fun to try. I would go back!

I have been here a number of times and have always had such a delicious experience. I was sad to read a recent review that wasn't the case. I do hope that was an isolated incident. It does get busy here on the weekends. I've been able to come in mid-morning so it's not that crowded. I love the breakfast choices, my favorite being the short rib skillet omelet and I've shared the decadent tiramisu pancakes....YUM! They also have an assortment of mimosas, my favorite being the ginger beer. Dinner can be intimate and their wine list is very good. On my last visit, it was mid-afternoon so they have a limited menu with tapas style dishes that can be shared. My favorite were these house made potato chips with crispy prosciutto. You can create a whole meal if desired and the choices are creative!

Found this place on TripAdvisor and the reviews were amazing. Thankfully I tried it because the food and service both were amazing. I like the fact the restaurant had non traditional items that work well together but you don’t see together often. This is a must try!

The menu is very varied so I think most people could easily find something enticing. The atmosphere is so comfortable and relaxing. My turkey sandwich was a bit common. I had a super good potato pancake as a side (one side comes with sandwiches). It would be a very nice place for a romantic date. Service was attentive.

A few co-workers and I enjoyed this establishment on a Thursday afternoon, it wasn't busy but we made it busy because there were like 12 of us, so they were a little overwhelmed by us all, so needless to say the service wasn't the best but it wasn't the worst. They did forget drink orders a lot but since we had good company we didn't mind as much. I tried the Mushroom Mac n Cheese and the Garlic Chicken Wings, along with the ginger mimosa and the pear mimosa. I was blown away with how delicious everything was and looked, but especially by how inexpensive everything was, $5 an option. Happy Hours rock! Looking forward to visiting again soon!