Crest Cafe Reviews

I was in San Diego for just over 6 weeks so I visited this cafe a few times. Staff very friendly, always refilling your drink, food was amazing, I definitely be going back here when I go back to Diego. :)

Great place in Hillcrest. I've been here several times. Food is very good, I tried omelette, scramble eggs and French toast. Everything is amazing. Unfortunately the service is really slow... I think they should add one or two waiters.

We went to this restaurant because we follow the restaurants that Guy Fieri reviews. Whenever we go somewhere we look up if there are any in the city we are in. There were six of us and we each ordered something different and we all thought the food was fantastic! Even my picky grandsons enjoyed their meal. In addition to that the service was impeccable and the server was so pleasant and kind. I would definitely go there again when I visit San Diego.

Craziness burger around... butter burger! The brioche bun is perfectly golden. The homemade potato chips were perfectly crispy. Perfect after beach spot!

I had the French toast and my friend had the butter burger. He raved about the burger. My French toast was very good, though nothing as extraordinary as you’d think from the title. Still, pretty cool place with solid food.

Went there with a friend. We are both visiting from FL. I had the breakfast burrito / no meat with Turkey Sausage on the side. We also had a pancake sampler and piece of French toast. My friend had the huevos rancheros. The portions here are huge. The food is delicious, authentic, fresh, an filling. The bill was very reasonable. Service was ok. I would recommend to anyone and will go back.

Saw this on Diners, Drive In's and Dives a while back so thought we'd check it out whilst in San Diego. Fantastic! Menu selection is superb. Such a wide choice to suit any taste and even fussy eaters like my daughter. I had a huge pastrami sandwich with salad which had the most amazing homemade dressing. It was just so delicious. My daughters had the macaroni cheese with salad and the other had a huge club sandwich. All nicely presented and extremely tasty. We had a very friendly waiter and there was a nice ambience about the place. Would definitely return.

Located in the Hillcrest neighborhood in San Diego, Crest Cafe offers original takes on American diner fare. During our morning visit we ordered the lemon ricotta pancakes, an omelette with vegetables, bacon, and cheese, and a medium-well burger. Our party of three all enjoyed the food. I did like that one of the side-order options was a generous portion of sliced Roma tomatoes. Our friend was very happy that his coffee was repeatedly refilled as soon as our waitress noted that he had a slightly-empty cup. Overall we had a pleasant visit.

Was looking for a Saturday Brunch spot with no line. Well, we found this place. We were promptly seated. Let us just say the seating arrangements were somewhat odd as I was kinda put in a weird corner. No big deal, but just odd. Our waiter appeared and brought our drinks with the quickness. Just iced tea for me. I had already had my coffee. The iced tea was unsweetened and quite brisk. Yum. We had the vegetarian scramble and the creme brulee french toast. Comes with Whipped cream and Strawberries--how could that be bad? The bread was nicely done and the creme brulee sauce was sweet, but it did not really taste much like creme brulee. That being said, it was quite tasty and I would order again. The vegetarian scramble was rather flavorless. The eggs were done well and veggies seemed fresh. It just seemed to be missing something however. The accompanying potatoes could also use some flavor or spice. I would not get this dish again. If you go here, be sure to check out the mural on the outside wall.

I am a regular customer at this place. Absolutely love their food. Great selection and reasonable prices. Very good service as well. Amazing choice for breakfast!

Not a planned visit, just found the cute cafe while exploring San Diego's Hillcrest neighborhood with my grown daughter. Also discovered that Guy Fieri of Drive-Ins, Diners & Dives (HGTV show) has visited and reviewed the restaurant. Fun fact! In addition to our delicious individual dishes we shared an order of batter dipped french fries garnished with grilled onions, pulled pork, barbecue sauce, and cheese. Sinfully delicious! We finished every bit of this dish!

Café Diner is very cute. A wonderful selection of Mexican breakfast choices. We enjoyed Chilaquiles with homemade corn tortilla chips, breakfast potatoes with onions, bell peppers, cilantro, goat cheese, sour cream & scrambled eggs. It was amazing and very flavorful. They have a very extensive menu with delicious and unusual offerings.

When you walk into the simple, clean, colorful Crest Cafe, you are welcomed by a cute waiter in a white shirt and tie , then onto the breakfast menu. Although so many things looked delicious, I ordered the old standby- scrambled eggs, and my meal was perfect! Perfect eggs, perfect hash browns, and excellent BACON. The table stalls were a bit cramped, for our child to sit in her seat, but they thoughtful put us in the corner.

Three and a half blocks West of the 163 Freeway in the Hillcrest area San Diego you can find Crest Cafe. There are several good restaurants in the neighborhood, but this establishment takes comfort food seriously. Taking family to visit San Diego during the holiday break we decided no to do the Old Town mexican or the several seafood restaurants, but to seek out a unique eatery. We arrived after two o'clock on the afternoon and the place was full. After waiting 10 minutes however we got seated. While waiting, we already saw some great dishes being delivered to guest and we couldn't help ooh-ing and ahh-ing. Skipping appetizers we ordered two hamburgers (one Balboa with great tsting bacon, the other Billy's with sauteed mushrooms, onions and swiss cheese), a mac and cheese with ham and jalapenos (this also comes with a great fresh salad on the side) and a Cold Turkey Meatloaf sandwich on rye. The food was great and plentiful and the service excellent. We had little room left for dessert, so we shared two plates: a french toast topped with fresh strawberries (this is a breakfast item, that we saw while waiting for our table) and a creme brulee. Both were top of their class creations. We left with the tought that we must come back to try some of the other dishes, like stuffed jalapenos, texas chili and home cooked pastas. We highly recommend this restaurant and we know you'll enjoy it.

Love to Come here for lunch. Out of the ordinary sandwich preparation. Nice atmosphere. Very consistent service and food.

We were in San Diego for 6 Days and was in Hillcrest last night and decided to eat there.. There was one server for the whole place so getting anything was a challenge... I ordered meatloaf which I love eating but this was not meatloaf!! Very disappointed!!! There are too many great places to waste your time on this place!!

No wait at 9:00am on a Sunday morning in this neighborhood is fantastic (but that may be the best thing I can say about this café). Seating is a little odd, we were sat at a corner table very close to other parties on either side which is a little awkward. Menu items were decent, but too pricey for quality. And service was decent but as I titled the review, lacking. The server was nice enough, but others we encountered varied from stone-faced almost running into me as I walked to the front, or outright being rude to a woman who sat next to us. Overall it was average experience, and not one that we will repeat.

A simple breakfast of eggs and an omelette before going to the airport. Service was excellent, neighboring diners were great and we enjoyed the well-behaved dogs with their peeps at our outdoor seat. Overall an enjoyable last meal in Southern California !

Came for lunch. Looked at the menu which featured a wide variety. Many of the dishes included bell peppers (not a favorite of mine) and the prices in general seemed 20-25% higher than other places serving similar food. I had the pork chops. They were juicy, not overly flavorful. The mashed potatoes with gravy were my favorite item. The baguette served with the dish was not fresh. My friend had the chimichuri steak. It was cooked properly but also lacked taste. The beans on the side were just that, beans. Although the server was warm and friendly, the bottom line is average food at above average prices doesn’t cut it for me. I won’t be back.

I have to admit I have never been in person, but I have ordered delivery several times in the past few weeks. The food is absolutely fantastic and the portions are definitely large enough for leftovers. Even being delivery, you can tell they care about presentation. From the quesadillas to the waffles, I definitely recommend trying them out. I can't wait to go in person!!

Crest has been open over 35 years and I first came here the month of opened. Tip I enjoyed today's visit while in SD. The place is reliably good and the staff is very friendly Good stop for any meal while walking around Hillcrest

Really enjoyed the experience. Our server, Sierra was delightful, and attended to every detail possible. The dining room was packed, and everyone there, including us, seemed to be having a great time. The food was hot, fresh, and delucious . Just what we wanted after a day at the zoo and touring balboa park. We will go again!

Food was excellent, service was a bit slow, but that was okay, we got to sit and enjoy and didn't feel rushed at all in this 'diner'. Creme brulee french toast was really good and not as rich and feeling as I thought it would be, just the perfect amount of food. Family of 5 with picky eaters and it was easy to find food and it was all good. Would go back for sure. Price is on the higher side but felt it was worth the value.

Was pretty amazing French toast I think n look pretty as well too! Not a bad view and and in a good spot in hill crest the service was really fast n the whole meal was pretty good as a whole experience

Saw this on an episode of Diners Drive-Ins and Dives, so we thought, why not try a place that's already been reviewed, while knowing the food would be good! Great burger, and our waiter was friendly and helpful! We didn't have a hotel booked for the area, and he gave us suggestions!

Food was great I had the banana foster French toast it was great. I was glad I went during the week as the place is small. We had a good waitress. And very friendly. They have a great special for breakfast but we got there to late. Would go again.

We saw the Crest Cafe on Drive-in, Diners & Dives the night we arrived in Del Mar. It looked great. So we may the short trip to Downtown San Diego and boy was it worth the drive. The french toast was fantastic. I got the classic french toast while my wife got the Creme Brulee French Toast. Both meals were great. Just a great little place.

Small, yes, some wait yes, but the food is worth the wait. The butter burger; let's just say that I didn't realize how fast I guzzled this burger. I'm all about no RBST etc, but all aside, I would continue guzzling this burger. Am I going back to review another dish? Heck yessss. Mouth watering dishes and fresh food, I will be back.

Well delicious went here because it was previewed on Guy's Diner drive ins n dives go hungry it was massive but was very good

We have had breakfast here many times over the years, and it was always good. This time I stopped for lunch. I had the Chicago hotdog and fries. It came on a toasted pretzel bun, smothered in chopped tomato, onion and dill pickle. There was so much that I couldn't pick it up and eat it. I had to use a knife and fork. The fries were plentiful and very good. It also came with a dill pickle spear. A great lunch. The service, as always, was fast and friendly. While waiting for my food, I enjoyed viewing the many pieces of artwork that are on display. I highly recommend the Crest Cafe.

New to San Diego living, we've been pickiing a part of town to explore on foot every month adding lunch to the fun of the task. Hillcrest was our pick in June. We parked, walked and window shopped; we delighted in the residential architecture and house-front gardens that had some time ago adopted water-wise plantings. And we looked for a place to eat lunch. A bit off the main 6th and University routes we found the Crest Cafe, crowded with diners. The corner venue delights in so many ways. Obviously, it's a beloved locals' spot probably because the comfort fare is just about perfect (my tuna melt was superb). Throw in old church pews for seating, walls painted peach, colorful Fiestaware on the tables and a good-looking waitstaff dressed in jeans and buttoned-down white Oxford shirts and the scene just gets better and better!

In this little restaurant the food is king. The creme brûlée French toast was sweet. The spicy sausage was tasty and the omelette was good and plentiful. The service is ok. We didn't have to wait so it was a plus. The parking can be tricky but you can always park in the lot near by for a fee. All in all it was a good experience.

This is a small café, with seating almost directly against the next table. That said, the food was great, and we were not rushed once we were seated (40 minute wait). It was worth doing it once; but due to the wait and very "cozy" seating arrangements (impossible to hold any sort of conversation unless you want half the restaurant to hear you), not sure I would do it again. Lastly, street parking is almost non-existent, and if you find a spot, you pay parking meters. I parked 3 blocks away, and had to go back to put more money in machine because of the long wait Again, great food!

We had party of five, in this rather cozy and unpretentious place in the Hillcrest neighborhood. The menu was varied, and it would be hard to not find something that didn't suit you. Some opted for breakfast, others lunch. I had the catfish po-boy, which was huge, and came with a very tasty jicama slaw. The eggs benedict was made perfectly, which is not always the case. I was visiting San Diego, but I'd eat here again next time I'm back, for sure.

We stumbled upon this place because Snooze had an hour and half wait. So glad we decided to eat here. It's fairly reasonably priced and the food was delicious. Two of us had the Creme Brûlée French Toast. Another had the Apple, Bacon Bundt French Toast and another had Apple Cinnamon French Toast. They all loved their dishes and we were thoroughly satisfied by the generous portion. One person in our party ordered the Chicken and Waffles and was not quite as pleased with his dish. There was a sweet, slightly acidic sauce underneath the chicken and waffle which he didn't care for. BUT he is VERY picky so it could just be his tastebuds. Great little place, friendly service and for most of us, a yummy breakfast.

I come here as my "regular" Hillcrest lunch because the menu has a lot of great breakfast items (and who doesn't like breakfast for lunch or dinner occasionally?). I came in for a quick lunch by myself. I was seated at one of the tables that fronts a long bench. I ordered the veggie pancakes, and they came with fruit salad (my choice), soup (I tried the chili - highly recommended!), and dipping sauce for the pancakes, though they didn't really need it. The plate was enough to absolutely fill me and required a takeout box! I love coming here, and will continue to visit it for its great decor and wonderful food and service.

What a fun and inventive place! A bit snug, but the food is worth any amount of jostling. I enjoyed the variety of choice as well as the laid back atmosphere. I would recommend.

We stopped in for brunch and from the moment you walk through the door and sit you are brought coffee immediately, by our lovely waiter... I had the Rubin’s Benedict and my partner had the blueberry French toast which was great and not too sweet Refills on the coffee and the sodas are fab as well all set in a Art Deco style diner which really is just charming I would highly recommend if you are in the area as the food is top notch

Never had opportunity to try food. My family and I were here on vacation and were very excited to try this well rated restaurant. We were made to feel as we were a bother for just walking inside. Waited for over 20 minutes and were ignored or rudely told when we inquired about seating. They had several tables available and sufficient staffing. Very disappointed. But then went to Bread and Cie and had a wonderful lunch!

The good ones do tend to stick around don't they? Still solid and reliable after so many years. Serious omelettes, wonderful waffles and great attentive service. Simple formula, always works.

Holy smokes! Try the BUTTER BURGER. This is a fantastic burger. HUGE. With butter dripping down my arm as I ate it!

We love stopping by DDD places. We accidentally stumbled on this one and were so glad we did. My husband had the butter burger and I had the creme brule French toast. Both of the items the Guy got when he filmed. Neither of us were disappointed.

We, a party of three, went here for lunch. As we started to order, we told the waitress that we wanted separate checks (one for the couple, one for the other person). The server said that would not be possible. The restaurant will only provide one check per table. She suggested that one of us should pay the total and that the remaining party could reimburse the one who had paid. For a variety of reasons, including that we had intended to pay by credit card and did not have sufficient cash with us, we did not accept the server's suggestions. So we left and the restaurant, which had few if any other customers at that time, lost our business (now and in the future). I guess we could have sat at separate tables and received separate checks...but that seems a ridiculous solution. So potential diners, beware.

Had to go and try another Triple D recommendation. Had to try their Texas Bread French Toast topped with a Creme Burlee Sauce and Fresh Strawberries. It was worth the trip, now I have to figure out how to duplicate it. What a great breakfast, plenty to eat and not overly sweet. Will go back again on next visit. The other breakfast items were the typical breakfast favorites, but it was nice someone who knows how to good eggs over medium and do them right. Have gotten tired of sending eggs back to the kitchen or ordering scrambled eggs when I really want them "white tight and yellow loose". Perfect

I don’t always love Guy Fieri’s DDD recommendations, but he did not steer us wrong on Crest Cafe! My criteria for a 5/5 rating: - Would I come back on my next trip? - Would I tell a friend they must stop here? - Will I be thinking about this meal weeks from now? Breakfast at Crest hit all the marks. Highly recommend the Creme Brûlée French Toast, Midwest Madness, Macadamia and Carmelized Banana Pancakes, and Veggie Breakfast Mess. Excellent, attentive service too.

The outside walls are decorated with neon signs and a vibrant mural of a large elephant. To me that says stay away. Inside the menu says treats in store. The staff is very good, I had black coffee and a Cabo quesadilla. More food than one person should eat, I enjoyed every bite I could.

My husband were recently in San Diego. We found the Crest Cafe by walking the Hillcrest neighborhood in search of a spot for breakfast. The service and food were excellent and would highly recommend the cafe.

Fantastic off the beaten path cafe! Stopped in before heading to the San Diego Zoo as the website struck us as being “unique”. It definitely lived up to its advertising. The Tuscan Benedict was so savory and the Caramelized Banana Macadamia Waffle was INSANE! Highly recommend this little gem…and don’t forget the coffee. :-)

We love the lunches at this Hillcrest establishment. The burgers are always good and the onion loaf is not-to-be-missed. We've tried their breakfasts on one occasion and were not impressed. My advice is to stick to lunch here.

Crest Cafe is a longstanding favorite in the lively Hillcrest district of San Diego. Crest has an outstanding breakfast menu, including a mind-boggling array of omelets, as well as all the other usual breakfast fare. However, some items, like an omelet made with chopped grilled salmon, onions, and capers, stand out. Crest also offers lunch and dinner, and the sign in the window: "Hearty, Healthy Comfort Food" is an accurate reflection of what you can expect. There is something for everyone, including vegetarians. Service is efficient and friendly. A comfortable place for a great meal in one of the city's most interesting old neighborhoods.

The Crest Cafe is in a moderately priced neighborhood located in San Diego's historic Hillcrest section. The generous menu offers breakfast all day and evening with many items to choose from. Salads and original pasta dishes are another tasty favorite offered at reasonable prices. Famous CrestBurgers can be had with beef, turkey or mixed patties and come with generous side portions more than enough for the most voracious of appetites. Be sure to leave room for the excellently prepared Crest Cafe desserts. All are impressed by the art deco/1950's neon decor which further adds to the friendly ambience augmented by the professional yet always neighborly serving staff.

This is my ONE must visit restaurant every time I am in San Diego. I try to get to San Diego about once a year. I first ate at Crest Cafe probably close to 10 years ago. And just loved it. I love the food, they have such a wide variety of options! The service is great! The wait staff is always so friendly and welcoming. It's in a fun part of San Diego, Hillcrest. I highly recommend eating here.

My wife and I are fanatics of Diners, Drive-in's and dives and we saw this place featured so we decided to give it a shot. We bought 3 things, the butter burger, creme brulee french toast and grilled veggie pesto sandwich. The french toast was outrageously good, we will in no doubt return for breakfast, it was very sweet and fluffy. Now my wife loves anything with pesto but she couldn't even finish her sandwich and not because it was huge but because as she described it, "it leaves an aftertaste of gasoline, almost like they cooked it right on top of the propane flame" Then i heard so many good things about the butter burger i think i was set up to be let down. My biggest complaint about the butter burger is the bun, its too thick and some bites all I could taste was bread. The other main problem I had with the burger was although it was dripping with butter the whole time it seemed to lack tenderness, Don't get me wrong, i ate the whole thing but it wasn't any better than a burger from Denny's.

The Crest Cafe is on the TripAdvisor's recommended Cafe list for lunches. Very nice decor with excellent service. The menu is large with lots of verity. Each of us chose a different entry and were very please with the meal. Large quanitty of food and take home boxes provided. Parking can be a problem.

While in San Diego for a cruise we sought out another Diners Drive-ins and Dives place to eat. Several available and we chose Crest Cafe. We had the Fish Tacos and Monte Cristo. Both were very good. I would call the service casual, not real fast but attentive to any needs and friendly. James took good care of us. Once again Guy chose a great one and did not disappoint.

We stopped in for a quick breakfast. One daughter got the raspberry ricotta French toast and it was out of this world! I got the lemon ricotta pancakes and those were great. Subtle lemon flavor but fantastic. My other daughter got the butter burger and that tasted killer! Overall it was a great visit!

We decided to come here because our original choice had too long a wait. After seeing it had been featured Diner drives and Dives we figured this was gonna be a great runner up. The service was sub par. Ordered lemonade because it said "fresh". We even asked to clarify it was fresh and waitress assured us it was. Tasted more like powdered packet lemonade. The coolest thing about this place is the extent of the menu--It's HUGE and available anytime. But this is probably why it took so long to get our food. I ordered the butter burger (featured on DDD) and it was alright if your okay with lots of grease. We also ordered chicken and waffles, which was the better choice. The chicken isn't your traditional fried chicken but rather tangy chicken tender like pieces, which was good. Not sure if we'll go back but at least we can say we've tried it.

Great place in Hillcrest. The service and staff are great. The food is really good. Something for everyone. The deserts are wonderful. Order one of them first...

This was our first stop after landing in San Diego. Chose it because of the dine in, drive in, and dive show, and what a treat!! The food was excellent. Service was too notch, and it was nestled into the lovely hillcrest area. We had the butter burger (a+++), cinnamon apple French toast (a++++), and the chicken and waffles (a+++). It all came out piping hot and just delish!

Breakfast was delicious. Pancakes were fluffy and big. Asked for 2 scrambled eggs on the side and got more than 2. Coffee was spot on. Service was wonderful.

Went there with family for lunch. Mac&Cheese, Turkey Sandwich and Pastrami Sandwich ordered for the three of us. Comes with choice of many sides. We chose 2 salads and cottage cheese. Everything was delicious, with comfortable, but not huge, portions. Friendly staff and prompt service. Take a pic of your food, post on their FB page, and you get a $5 discount! Big menu, and everything is served all day long. It's a place I'll visit again next time I'm in SD.

I didn’t feel happy at all. Waiter was rude and impolite, possibly homophobic. Food was not good, it wasn’t worth the value. Place, ketchup and mustard were dirty. Ceceline, the manager, is not friendly and belittled my purchase as you can see in the conversations, looks like she doesn’t need new customers. Don’t go, save your day.

I've enjoyed & appreciated Crest Cafe for over 20 years. My go-to Hot Mexican Roast Beef was off limits for tonight's visit. This time leafy greens were in order. Heath was not only warm & welcoming, his people skills really shone. Asking for some reco's, the Flat Iron Steak Artichoke was included. Steak, at a diner? Hmmm... Well, all I can say is wow, really, wow. The steak was not only delicious, the salad was all-the-way-around a winner! Who knew....?!? Well, Heath did! I hope you enjoy Crest as much as well do. Bon appétit!

We liked the Crest Cafe so much, we ate 2 suppers there in just 7 days. We had heard of the Cafe in a travel magazine and it was convenient to where we were staying. Dining at the Crest Cafe in San Diego. It was recommended in the Interval International magazine. Meatloaf for me and the Mexican Chicken Torta for my wife. It was a great meal with very generous portions and lots of items to try during future visits. On our second visit, we discovered they had a 2 for 1 burger special when you purchased a beverage. So we had 2 wonderful burgers on our second visit.

We started off going to another place for breakfast but there was an hr & a half wait, so we decided to walk around the block....and check out the area. We stumbled on this quaint little gem. We waited 5 minutes for a table, service was great and the food was delicious! Give it a try.... It's worth it :-)

I was looking for a local breakfast place and out of sheer luck the Crest Cafe popped up on my maps.First off, it was not jam packed crowded like most places in SD. I parked right out front, walked in and got a table immediately. What a great friendly staff. I’m not the most outgoing person but they were. Apparently, Diners-Drive-Ins and Dives featured them on the show. I definitely trust Guy’s opinion when it comes to where to eat. Breakfast was really good. They had a lot of options but I went with the standard French toast, hash browns and bacon. It’s a nice local cafe I would recommend for anyone to try.

Although service was a bit slow, the food was definitely worth the wait. I had the Angus hash with eggs over easy and it was so good! I also tried a few bites of their buttermilk pancakes and they were delicious, too. The fruit was also fresh and a large portion. No doubt I would eat here again.

This is a terrific place for breakfast. It is reasonably priced & they don't skimp on the portions. It's a very relaxed and friendly atmosphere. My son and I shared the meat lover's omelet & my husband had the chicken and waffles. The apple juice was fresh squeezed & everything tasted wonderful. I highly recommend this place

I have been coming the Crest Cafe since it opened. It has gone downhill past the empty lot around the corner next to the smelly recycling plant. The food lacked flavor,temperature and finesse. I had the breakfast platter with chicken sausage a fruit cup and a lemon ricotta pancake. Eggs were over cooked ,the sausage was dry and the pancake was not cooked thoroughly. The server was tacky,tall with a attitude. EXPENSIVE and not like it used to be. Sorry but you lost a valuable customer. I wish you well.

While on vacation, I went here with my wife and 2.5 year old daughter. My wife and I both ordered the creme brûlée french toast and we ordered my daughter scrambled eggs. We loved the food so much that we made a point to eat breakfast here again the next morning. The second time I ordered the Macademia Nut and Banana Waffle and my wife ordered the cinnamon apple french toast and my daughter once again got eggs. The bill both times came out to around $30 and we loved everything we ate. Also had great service! Next time we are in San Diego we will definitely be going back. The only complaint I have is having to pay a parking meter. However, the paid parking doesn't start until 8am. So if you arrive early enough then parking would be for free.

This visit I had the chocolate waffle. I treated myself (had been eating healthy bran cereal every morning). If you are a chocolate lover, please try this waffle. It's simply the best.

My son and I had a SD Dining Pass Book (buy 1 entree, get 1 free), so we decided to visit Crest Cafe. There is a nearby parking lot that you can park in and the restaurant will validate your ticket--however, the lot was full (weekday afternoon in downtown setting), so we parked on the street for 25c every 10 minutes. This is an old theme cafe with a large number of varied menu items. I ordered the Chicken Italiano and my son, the burger plate. He said his was very good, and mine was also very good. Everything seemed home made, especially the mashed potatoes and vegetables. My only critique would be that they put too much salt in the mashed potatoes--but, since I am a salt lover, I ate them. The service was excellent. I would visit again as the prices were very reasonable and I liked the homemade food options.

We chose the Crest Diner for our Christmas Day breakfast although by the time we arrived it was closer to lunchtime. C'est le guerre. I enjoyed a delightful mimosa while we waited for our meal. There is soooo much to choose from but we finally decided on the stuffed orange marmalade French toast, Yucatan tostadas, and the two egg breakfast with house-made sausage patties. My daughter ordered the Sunrise Salmon and it disappeared from her plate so quickly I didn't really get to see it. The French toast was awesomely delicious but my tostadas with the mango salsa were out of this world yummy! High marks for the sausage patties too. Definitely on the "we'll be back" list.

Great spot for breakfast. Faustino was an amazing waiter! This place has amazing food. They also validate parking so look into that before you pay for parking. We go here again!

Crest Café, 425 Robinson Ave. San Diego, Ca (Hillcrest District) Jan 2015 We had lunch today at this quaint quasi diner-styled café. It was unusual in that it felt on one hand a typical diner we all know from the 50’s/60’s fame yet on the other hand not. One side of the L-shaped restaurant felt like a diner yet the other side where we sat was quite different with the seats that we had being much like an old church pew also being L-shaped off one wall. The seating was tight between crammed tables with little elbow room for guests and servers to pass by. The Hillcrest area is a business, living and entertainment area with large LGBT communities. Our waiter was from this community. I don’t know if it was us that our server, Faustino had a flip attitude towards us but for some reason it was abundantly clear he treated us differently than the table next to us who were from the LGBT community. Did he feel we shouldn’t be here? He’ll figure it out one day when he realizes why he’s not making as much in tips as his peers. I know our tip was adjusted to reflect his attitude. Hopefully, he was just having an off day. Apparently, this is one of the restaurants that the Food Network’s host, Guy Fieri featured on his show called Diner’s Drive-in’s and Dive’s. As for the food – I had the veggie chili and my wife had a basic burger. Both were very tasty leaving us wanting more. The nice part about their burgers is you could order turkey, beef, or ground beef & pork mix and for the more diet/health-conscious diners. But, in addition to the always artery-hardening French fries you could order cottage cheese, green salad; potato salad or, jicama coleslaw to go with the burger instead of the fries. We found the taste and quality to be good. The prices were average for this style of restaurant. A great little place! We’d recommend taking in this little gem (sans Faustino) when you’re in the Hillcrest area. Keep in mind though, this type/style of restaurant is all over America and it's a good place to dine. I'm not sure it's any better/different than any other "Tom, Dick, Harry Aunt Mary's" diner just up the road. To us, it's a solid 3+ but not a 4 just because The Food Network happened to feature them on their show.

With a nod to the diners of the 1950's, the Crest Cafe offers great food and service. Breakfast was ample and tasty. Our server was friendly, efficient and quick. Would definitely go back!

Here's a place that makes nothing ordinary. I went for breakfast and seriously couldn't decide what to get...it all sounded so good. The various types of gourmet french toast choices made it difficult. I got the Creme Broulet french toast. Fantastic.

I had to head down to San Diego for a work meeting and wanted to try this place after seeing it on Triple D. It did not disappoint. I ordered the Butter Burger and it was the juiciest burger I've ever had. Taste wise, ranks in my top five ever.

I just love this place , it's the first place we come to eat every time we visit San Diego , the service is good and the food is so tasty and well priced , you have to give this place a look .

Had a great brunch here with the family. Had the Butter burger - very juicy and tasty! My S.O. had the chicken hash and said it was perfect!

The three of us ordered hamburgers which were very fresh and cooked as ordered. The french fries were fresh-cut and delicious. Friendly wait staff. I would come again and try the breakfast menu. This cafe has been recommended by Guy Fieri.

This is a place for big eaters and food lovers. My omelette was a work of art. Friendly service, full of regulars, a place to feel at home and to come back to. Creative menu. I wanted to order everything. Too bad I don't live here or I would eat my way theough the menu and come back for more.

My husband and I make a habit of visiting this restaurant when we are in San Diego. It's in an out of the way area, but well worth the trip. The food is simply the best. The service has always been fabulous. Try the French Toast, I can guarantee you've never had better.

We were visiting family in the area and our son told us about the Creme Brulee French Toast...I said, "I'm buyin'", so off for the perfect Sunday morning breakfast. Crest Cafe is very popular, but we were there just before 9:AM and beat the rush! Our server was attentive and gracious, the atmosphere fun, clean and inviting, and the food was amazing! Worth a stop!

Two of us had breakfast here. my Wife had the Orange Marmalade French Toast and I had the Raspberry Ricotta French Toast. Both were excellent and delicious. I was told that the Orange Marmalade French Toast was "good enough to make your brains fall out"!! We also had a side of bacon, which was very good. Our server was Faustino. He was very personable and efficient. Although he was very busy he did take time to talk to us. He make a terrific cup of coffee as well. I am sorry this was our last day in San Diego. If we were staying longer, we would be back every day.

The plain Mexican breakfast like Huevos Rancheos was good, nothing special. The omelet we ordered was delicious and very spicy. Lots of good flavor. Some of the specials looked great. We would love to try it again. Spicy chicken sausage was yummy. Service was slow at first but got much better after we ordered. Pricing was decent.

I really did not enjoy this restaurant. The service, while friendly enough, was not timely. I could not get our server's attention for a coffee refill or another utensil which dropped on the floor. The angus has was simply gross with huge chucks of hamburger, which tasted like sausage and equally huge chunks of potatoes. The huesos rancheros were bland. The bathroom was absolutely filthy. I would never recommend this restaurant. My biggest compliment would be the toast was good.

Portions were very large. Variety of offerings. Featured on Diners, Drive ins and Dives. Prices ran an average of $15 each. Hamburgers were huge. Breakfast served anytime. Would visit again when in the area. Parking could be an adventure.

I ordered the Lemon Ricotta Pancakes. I'm not normally a fan of eating pancakes out because they are usually bland and gummy. But I make a lemon pancake, and also a ricotta pancake at home and was really looking forward to these. They were a disappointment. There was only a vague hint of lemon, and basically they tasted like the normal pancakes you'd get out. My husband loved his omelet, and my kids gobbled up their food as well-- the granola/yogurt was a big hit for one of them. I think I just got the wrong thing. Service was good, but not the place to be if you are in a big hurry. I'd go back, but definitely order something else.

The Crest Cafe is wonderful , we had such a great time . The service is wonderful and the food is outstanding. We saw it on TV and just had to try it out . The Butter BUrger and homemade chips is DA BOMB!!!!

This place is great!! We are down here from Orange County and stopped here for breakfast and had to come back next day to try it again. Just amazing and great atmosphere!

Amazing meal. Very veg friendly menu. They were very accommodating for our large group of 4 adults and 3 kids. The kids devoured the pancake. The Cree brûlée French toast was amazing. My husband had the angus beef hash that was delicious! Great time!

Since a couple of nearby restaurants had a wait time of over an hour, we decided to try this location at the suggestion of a local resident. We walked up, got seated at an outdoor table, and enjoyed a fabulous breakfast. They have an impressive menu - and you can order ANYTHING you want for brunch! Our table had the pancakes, creme brulee french toast, omelettes, and I had the Billy's Burger. Everything was delicious! My burger was super juicy (I got the half chorizo/half beef) with mushrooms and cheese and it was amazing. The portions are good at a great price. We all were definitely pleased with our choice for brunch. This is a funky restaurant with a cool vibe and delicious food.

The Crest Cafe is a great, local eatery. You can always get an awesome meal there and the wait staff are great. I've never had a bad meal there and it's in Hillcrest.

Enjoyed a late breakfast here and was really impressed. Heard about on DDD so we had to try it. I enjoyed the strawberry ricotta French toast, which was to die for! My husband enjoyed one of their burgers, he wasn't in the mood for breakfast at that moment, but REALLY loved the burger. It was super juicy and fresh! Our friend had their French toast with I believe walnut or pecans. Said it was great. Service was friendly, prices reasonable. Great little place that I would revisit for sure.

Simple but delicious food. Never been disappointed .I love the Huevos Rancheros. I usually go there for late breakfats

Great breakfast...had the Hangover Omelette. The chimichurri was really good. The diner is pretty small and we had to wait about 15 minutes on a Friday morning. I assume it would be a little longer had it been a weekend. We did have a party of 6, over that amount would be tough to seat. Service was fast once we were seated. Would definitely recommend and return.

We were searching for a place to have dinner the Sunday of Memorial Day weekend - 8:45 and everything is closed or booked! Searching my trusty Tripadvisor app...found the Crest Cafe. Wow! So glad we came here! Delicious old school diner food, including INCREDIBLE bread pudding for desert! Will come again!

Went to the Crest for breakfast. Coffee was hot and fresh with plenty of refills. The food is excellent; served hot and fresh. Triple D (I wish Guy would shut up and listen a little more) helped bring the place to the forefront of must visit restraints in the San Diego area.

Saw this place on TV. Diners, drive ins and dives didn't let me down. Butter burger was awesome. Faustino was friendly and engaging. My daughter had French toast which she devoured lol. Parking is tricky but worth it. Definitely try it!! 👍👍

We enjoyed breakfast immensely. Lots of choices and they all looked good coming out of the kitchen. We didn't have to wait long. It is a fun place with cute style inside and a few tables outside. Nice service and wonderful food. My husband tried the chicken and waffle and it had a delicious honey orange glaze and the flavors were terrific. My raspberry French toast was sweet and filling.

We had the blueberry Belgian waffle, breakfast enchiladas and bacon pancakes. All were great! Service was fast and very friendly. We were able to park right out front. They have indoor and outdoor seating. This is a Triple D restaurant and very good. Would recommend highly if, like me, you love breakfast food!

The menu is huge. And a lot of different kinds of food. The service was a little slow but the waiter was nice. The man who sat me appeared to be the owner and seemed really crabby. But the food was great. I ordered breakfast food and it was truly great food.

I ordered the lemon ricotta french toast with chicken sausage. It was a lot of food but I was compelled to eat all of it because it was so delicious. The waiter was very friendly and attentive even though he clearly had many other tables. The only thing is that the actual table was a little dirty when I was seated - the napkin was actually stuck to it.

We stumbled upon this place and I have to say it was pretty lucky for us. The food was great. It came fast and out waiter was super friendly. I would definitively recommend this for anyone in the area of Hillcrest looking for hearty breakfast.

The restaurant itself is dated, but seems clean and the wait staff was good. They had good food for both breakfast and dinner.

Our server was very friendly and helpful picking our dishes. Very knowledgeable on menu items and neighborhood. French Toast was beyond delicious. The best burgers are the Blu burgers that are juicy and cooked perfectly with LOTS of blue cheese as the name implies. Love the cozy atmosphere and all the pictures on the walls. Breakfest was always available since I am a late riser. I always found the food and service consistently great. We have been here numerous times over many YEARS and always good food and wonderful waiters/waitresses.

Great service and a perfect location in Hillcrest. I had the Butter Burger with home made potato chips, and it was amazing. One family member had the meatloaf and it was a tad salty, but perfectly cooked. I will be back.

Recently I have enjoyed breakfast/brunch dishes at the Crest. Honors go to the three-raisin French Toast, made with the wonderful bread from Bread & Cie. Sweet, tender, moist even before adding syrup, it is a treat. The Belgian waffle--a bit over cooked--not as satisfying. The Crest's service tends to be first rate, although depending who is in duty, it can vary widely.

A local friend took me here for breakfast as she rates it as one of the best in San Diego She was not wrong. It certainly did not disappoint! The service was fantastic, as was the food. The only thing is that you need to find street parking, which I imagine can be struggling during peak hours. I will return when I am back in San Diego!

Hello, I ate here on Friday, the 5th of July, 2019. I used to eat here more often. It has been a while and I tried it again. My friend had a BBQ chicken sandwich and said it was quite good. My meal was my least favorite. It was a turkey meatloaf sandwich on a brioche bun that was not very fresh. The meatloaf was very cold and not very tasty at all. I think the meatloaf was supposed to be cold but cold turkey meatloaf is not that good and it was very cold, not room temp. My Arnold Palmer drink was great as was the service. They do have a large variety of foods and some are supposed to be healthy. I do not know for sure. Also, their homemade chips are terrific. You probably can’t go to wrong eating there and will be satisfied. Give it a try, especially for Breakfast or lunch. I give it 31/2 stars.

Breakfast does not have to be fancy - it has to be good. And this place, though small and often crowded makes a mean breakfast! My husband and I have been here many times and they never fail to deliver. Plenty to choose from with good combinations, GREAT service and nice prices. There are a few tables for outdoor seating on the front sidewalk or tabes inside. Good coffee too!

I've eaten at Crest several times over the last 20 years. I've never been impressed. It's like you often hear, you can either have good food or atmosphere but you can't have both. Well, I've always felt this place was cute but the food wasn't that great. It's certainly not memorable. Last weekend our group of 6 decided to meet here. When we arrived, the lobby was empty and the first 3 of us showed up together. The staff wouldn't seat us until our complete party had arrived. Now I think this is reasonable if there is a wait, but the place had open tables and no one else waiting. In the 20 minutes we waited, we could have been seated and spending money on mimosas. Instead we were forced to wait. Finally, the one waiter with common sense seated us despite not having a complete party. As a paying customer, I chose to use the free WiFi. After leaving I received a request to please provide feedback. So I did! I provided my honest feedback detailing our dissatisfaction with the seating policy as well as feedback about the mediocre quality of the food. But our waiter was GREAT! Instead of receiving a concerned response seeking further feedback or kindly addressing my concerns, I got an email with a nasty tone accusing me of using their free WiFi to provide "hurtful" feedback. The owner clearly can't handle constructive criticism. I definitely won't be back to this place until I see that ownership has changed. I've never thought it was all that good, and now I wouldn't waste my time.

The Crest Cafe has not had a lot of recent reviews, so I will give a brief update. We visited in the late afternoon when it was not very busy. Service was friendly with our server offering advice on the expansive menu. Overall, the food was outstanding. We ordered two omelettes and two burgers. The omelettes were tasty with perfectly cooked and seasoned eggs and other ingredients melded together on the grill. The accompanying home fries and toast rounded out the filling meal. Our burgers were made with fresh charbroiled beef. Ground turkey and garden burgers are also offered. On top of that, there are around 15 builds. Burger heaven! Our burgers were worthy but the patties were a little dry. I had the butter burger and it was not the juicy, butter oozing goodness highlighted on Triple D. Overall, the food quality is a great value for the money. The restaurant is clean and the bathrooms immaculate. The cafe has a local vibe with postings and literature on events going on in the lively Hillcrest neighborhood.

Full disclosure: we did not plan on dining here; our restaurant of choice had a wait over over 90 minutes, so we pivoted and ended up at Crest Cafe. There were only two other groups ahead of us on their wait list clipboard, so we added our names and walked outside to wait. We were given an outdoor table not long after. Also: my husband would absolutely rate this restaurant much higher than me. Our waitress, though friendly, was either a bit distracted or just too busy with other tables, as she was hard to flag down and absent for the majority of our meal. I ordered the Mediterranean Scramble with wheat toast ($14), and my husband got the Yucatan Tostadas ($13.50). Two cups of coffee rounded out our meal. Now, this may sound like nitpicking, but I ordered the Mediterranean *Scramble*, but what I got was an omelet. Really - why give a diner the option between "scramble" and "omelet" if you're just going to deliver an omelet, anyway? (And yes, crazy as it sounds, I *prefer* scrambles to omelets. I also love grapes but hate raisins. /shrug) The omelet was pretty unremarkable. The eggs were overcooked, but the plate itself was runny, due to the spinach and tomatoes, I'm guessing. The only flavor came from the smattering of feta cheese, which gave just a bit of saltiness to the bland dish. At least the hash browns were cooked as I'd requested (crispy on both sides). Across the table, my husband was chomping his way through the Yucatan Tostadas, after a brief moment of "how the heck am I supposed to eat this?" He really loved the flavors of the meat, beans and cheese, and surprised himself by professing an enjoyment of the mango salsa. He had polished off his plate long before I tapped on my watery scramble-that-wasn't. He did recently suggest we return for another breakfast, but there are so many other places nearby to try, I just don't want to waste our time and money on something I didn't even enjoy.

It was loud and there were not all that many people there. Wait service was uneven at best. When giving order my food restrictions were made clear and went asked for a list of ingredients for the chicken soup, I was told it was just spinach and chicken. I had made clear no milk products so I was really surprised to find a cream based soup in front of me.The food was taken back with minimal hassle. Eventually, I ordered the pulled pork the same as my companion, but without the fries. No suggestions of substitutes or reduced price. So I got half the food at the same price. I eventually ordered a fruit bowl to complete the meal. I think the menu is a mess. IT is hard to read and actually tract what they are offering. I am a visitor to SD and when I come to town I have made Crest a stop. That will no longer happen. As we were trying to leave we asked for the check. He brought it. It said we had to pay our waiter on it. So I put in my credit card. The waiter never returned to our table. My partner attempted to flag him and get his attention. The restaurant was almost empty. When my partner spoke to him from our table in a very nice way, he ran away as fast as he could. So I eventually put cash in the bill and we left. He said good bye as we walked out the door. Classic passive aggressive behavior. What his problem was I have no idea. The next day I stopped by to speak wth the manager. I did not get to her. I was asked to fill out a card. She emailed that day to say she would call in the next day or two. She did. We talked. She was defensive and said that he did not remember us and that was not the person that she knew. I simply replied that actions speak louder than words. I will not be back.

Arrived early on a Saturday morning and was seated inside immediately. The outside seating would have been nice as well given the weather but a little close to the street and on the sidewalk for our preference. Server was super friendly with lots of helpful hints. We tried four different dishes and each was exceptional! This is a great breakfast spot and worth the time to find and enjoy!

I'm a big 'Diners, Drive-ins and Dives' fan from the UK. So when I knew I was coming to San Diego I knew I had to check out this place which was featured on the show. It didn't disappoint. I ordered a big Cuban breakfast sandwich and a butter burger (for breakfast!). Butter Burger is very rich but juicy and tasty. Definitely a breakfast spot to visit. Plus your phone may be able to pick up the Starbucks WiFi from across the road!

We watched Diners, Drive ins and Dives in the UK weeks before our vacation to San Diego and drooled over the French Toast Creme Brûlée. So it was on our wish list when we arrived in California from England. After reading earlier reviews we questioned going, but thank goodness we did! Great service; polite & engaged in conversation, and the food lived up to our expectations. I ordered French toast with fruit (banana & strawberries), and my wife tucked into the Creme brûlée version. I recommended the place to a local taxi driver and he will be taking his family there...so, get yourself there!

We stopped here pretty late, it was just after 11, and they closed at 12AM. Despite the time, we felt welcome and wee bit rushed! The server recommended the Pastrimi Rueban, and it was absolutely delicious!

From the outside, this little diner doesn't look as special as its food. The inside of the diner wasn't anything special but the wait staff was very friendly and the menu had so many choices. I was there with my family, so we asked what Guy Fieri ate when he was there. The waiter told us he had the Creme Brul'ee Strawberry French Toast, so we ordered that, Pan Fried Spicy Catfish (which came with homemade augratin potatoes and steamed vegetables), and Macaroni and Cheese (made with jack, cheddar & parm cheeses). We did start our dinner with Fried Mozzarella Cheese with a marinara sauce. Everything was homemade and amazing!!! It was a little pricy for a diner, but great food. The parking on the other hand was terrible.

Still our "go to" place for breakfast in Hillcrest. My favorite are the breakfast enchiladas. Wife enjoyed pastrami hash from the new menu. Love the dog friendly outside seating. Locals place with exemplary service.

We went to Crest Café for breakfast on a Sunday morning early! Our coffee was perfect, the wait staff was excellent, the décor was fun, and the food was delicious!

This place is not hard to find, once you turn the corner you'll see it. It is cute and neon at night. When we went it was not too busy at all. The service was fantastic. We were seating quickly and the waiter was so friendly and made us feel comfortable. We ordered what Guy Fierri had on DDD (we're big fans), and it was delicious. The Butter Burger was the best burger we've had. It was so juicy and flavorful. The creme brulee french toast was sweet but delicious.

Crest Cafe is a highly recommended joint for breakfast in San Diego. It offers a full menu and not only breakfast stuff which is great for us! We ordered the Not Your Grandmas Pot Pie ($11) and Chicken and Waffles ($11) that morning. If you only have 1 choice, definitely go for the Chicken & Waffles. The chicken was tender on the inside and crispy on the outside eventhough the sauce was drenched over it. Coupled with the waffles, this dish makes a strong contender to the chicken & waffles from Hash House A Go Go, with a price that’s hard to beat! You can give the pot pie a miss, though we really liked the huge portion of salad that went with it.

We ate here before going to the Zoo. Food was really good and reasonably priced. Had the power pancakes. They were good but had a slightly different taste due to the cottage cheese. I would recommend this restaurant.

We had to visit after the DDD show and found the menu to be very big. My husband chose pancakes and I had a tostada breakfast. Good service but it’s a small place and we were sat right on top of another couple, way too close.

I love diners and this one is a kind of a California cuisine version. Food was wonderful and service was great. I can't wait to go back.

We were flying back to the UK that evening so wanted something quite plain to eat . It was a great for brunch and definitely saw us through as it was large portions of good food. I really enjoyed it and it is something America does well , brunch sort of food with lots of choice . Great waiter very attentive .

I have a friend in San Diego who lives a block or two away from the Crest Cafe, so I've been there three times, I think, on visits. It's always fantastic, and is much better than what I consider typical diner fare. The choices are more interesting, the food is always prepared extremely well, the coffee is good - not much to complain about, and (for some reason) often less crowded than other places. Must say, I've only been here for brunch, but next time, will check out dinner!

Great food and good prices. And phenomenal service! Our waiter was so funny and friendly. Good place for breakfast. Highly recommend!

We stopped by here while staying at a timeshare in the neighborhood. The service was friendly and attentive, the food was decent, and the prices moderate. Our server appeared to be new as he had to ask the other server about how one item was made and the ingredients of another but he did so quickly and he ensured our food arrived as ordered. Some of the food items have a little 'twist' to how they are made so you do need to pay attention if you have any food allergies or items that you can't eat. This place is nothing fancy but a decent place to grab a bite if you are in the area.

The staff is always friendly here. Food is a step above average for this kind of place and they do limited substitutions (depending). Parking is tough in this area and the police are more than willing to give you a ticket if you let the meter lapse, so be careful.

Loved the food, lots of avacado, loved some of their sauces on the food (the green one in the pic). Both mine and spouse's is barely warm. Food bowl is ok too.

Ate there this weekend we had the butter burger. It was absolutely perfect!! It is buttery and juicy I had to cut it in half to eat it. It is served with red onions,if I went back I would not put them in because they over power the flavor of the burger. Without the onion it is perfect. My daughter had the mac and cheese with bacon. It was warm gooey and delicious. Our server was great. She let us know that they validate parking you have to stop by first and let them know so you can park. Will definitely do that next time because finding parking on the street was hard. We went and there was no wait, they have a few tables outside and we sat there. We love coming to San Diego to eat outside.

It is difficult to find pancakes not made from white flour. Crest Cafe offers a short stack of multi-grain pancakes with cottage cheese in the batter, topped with slivered almonds and blackberries - absolutely delicious! My husband ordered the Western omelette and it came full of tasty ham, cheddar cheese and fresh peppers and onions. It was fluffy and light - just as it should be. Our waiter was friendly and efficient. We really enjoyed our dining experience in the funky neighborhood of Hillcrest.

After seeing this restaurant on TV and hearing from friends how good the food is I had to try it. I ordered the Crest Butter burger, yes I did say butter! They stuff the patty with butter which made for a messy bun but delicious burger. The famous house made fresh chips , which the waiter said where fresh, were a big disappointment. They were not crispy and were not salted. They were a big fail after the build up. My friend ordered the Mexican Chicken sandwich which she said was very good, it looked good too. It was so big she took home half for another meal. The pickle served with the burgers and sandwiches is a star. Our waiter was very attentive and friendly. There is a small eating counter but not really a bar scene kind of place. The have plenty of loyal repeat customers, which says a lot for the food and service.

The menu is extensive here, so there should be something for everyone. They serve a huge array of different breakfast dishes, including some Mexican dishes for those wanting breakfast burritos etc. My wife went for the apple and chicken hash, while I had the beef hash. Both came with toast and fruit. The fruit was really fresh and delicious and the hashes were both really good, although my wife's didn't taste much of apple. Drinks were good too, as I find it hard to get a cup of tea that I like in the US, but Crest did it well. A high chair was provided for our son and our waitress was perfect; attentive without being overbearing. It isn't the best food we've every had, but it's decent. If you have a hangover, I'd recommend this place to help get rid of it.

Really good food. Never disappoints. The only thing is it's a little crowded. But they always seem to be able to see it patrons quickly.

Had delicious home made onion rings and burgers here. Menu is extensive and prices are very reasonable. Plan to return.

I ordered the grilled pastrami with fries and there was very little meat and it was grilled to a burnt crunchiness. The fries were soggy and greasy and tasted old. When the waiter came to clear the table I complained and he laughed and said why didn't I tell him sooner. HELLO, we hadn't seen him since he brought the food. He never came to ask if everything was okay or to refill our drinks. I will not be back!

Nice little diner for when you just want to eat something without a lot of fanfare. Great alone or with a couple of friends for informal comfort food. The breakfasts are great.

We visited a couple of high end breakfast venues, and were disappointed in the value vs quality of food. This small cafe in The Hillcrest area of San Diego’s was delicious, and very welcoming by the staff. We had breakfast and then a couple of days later lunch. Quality and prep was excellent. We’ll be back next year when we visit.

butter burger on the menu was tasty although nothing over the top. Fresh and greasy from all the butter for sure. We had to try the Nutter bacon grilled cheese I think is the name. Basically a pb and j on a grilled cheese with some bacon in the middle. Outstanding!!!!!! Messy and drippy and absolutely delicious. We also ordered the mango Brie quesadilla with fresh salsa. By itself the quesadilla was okay, but with the salsa it was wonderful. A nice alternative for vegetarians for sure. I would not take kids after dark as there is a gay bar right next door and explaining why boys were wearing make up (drag queens arriving for a show) was interesting. Lol.

We went for lunch and it was great. The food was delicious and very generous portions and good prices. The waiter, Faustino I think his name, was very friendly and attentive. The decor inside and out is Art Deco with good atmosphere. We will be going back for sure.

family of SIX vacation. On day #1 we had breakfast at Crest Cafe and it was amazing. Eggs Benedict, my favorite but all at my table were very happy with their breakfast. GREAT place, even without Guy Fieri's recommendation!

After reading great reviews overall we decided to try this place. Parking was an absolute nightmare but a walk is always good. We got to sit outside. Very very very S l o w service. Waited too long for any request. It is a small restaurant but I realized there were 2 other servers as well so ours wasn't alone. We got coffee, a Cobb omelette, creme brûlée French toast and a meat lovers omelette. Food was great, French toast needed syrup but our server never checked up on us. It was like pulling teeth to get refills on our water or coffee much less the check and pay on time. The menu looked fantastic but I think our experience is destroyed and we won't be back.

Saw this place was featured in Diners Driveins and Dive on the food network. Figured we would give it a shot. Saw they had creme brûlée French toast. We were sold. Cute little place. Wish we could have seen it at night. Food was amazing. Creme brûlée French toast was amazing. We also had the pumpkin gingerbread pancakes. Also awesome. Only thing I wish we knew was that u had to stop in the restaurant first for a parking validation. We paid to park thinking we could get validation. Nope. I would suggest something on the sign out front or website that says come in first for a parking pass.

I moved to SD many years ago, the crest Cafe has always been one my favorite spots for breakfast. I don't mind coming by myself because this place has that quality of making you feel comfy just like being home. The restaurant has been open 35 years and for a trendy neighborhood like Hillcrest it is a huge milestone. Many restaurants open and close all the time. Crest cafe found the secret - quality food, good pricing and excellent service!! Try the machaca, or the Carolina's breakfast, and the coffee- very important 👍🏼😊

I have been here for both dinners and breakfasts, and can say with confidence that this is probably the best overall eatery in Hilcrest! It was never to busy when I arrived with my friends, and service is fast and efficient. The decor is reminiscent of 50's diners, which appeals to my New Jersey roots. Friendly staff offer fast, courteous service.

While on vacation in San Diego we dined here for brunch. Omg! So delicious! The food is fresh. The service was great. We will definitely be back the next time we are in town. Highly recommend.

This is a funky little non-pretentious restaurant in the Hillcrest area of San Diego, just off the 163. The inside of the restaurant is tiny and a little bit cramped, with a few outdoor tables available if you prefer. But the friendly vibe and absolutely terrific food more than outweigh the limited seating conditions. The food is served freshly prepared, tasty and attractively presented, with very generous portions. The service is excellent and non-intrusive, including inquiries of whether everything is ok or if anything else is needed, with consistent beverage refills/warm-ups. After eating here your tummy is full, your taste buds are happy, and you leave feeling you've just shared a nice dining experience with a group of friendly, happy people.

On our last day in San Diego we were looking for a casual restaurant offering good, healthy eats. The Crest Café was a perfect place. From the looks of the menu, if you wanted something a little decadent you could find that here too. My husband had the Italian Dip sandwich (aka Beef Dip) and I had the Chicken Pot Pie. Both came quickly and nice and hot. My pot pie was as advertised -- different than your Grandmother's -- very good, with a bit of spice. For Canadian readers -- if you ask for white vinegar to go with your fries, they'll be able to bring you some :) Our waiter was very personable and provided just the right amount of attention. The menu is extensive and reasonably priced. Would I go again? Absolutely

The Crest Cafe is a bustling local spot in Hillcrest. The yummy pancakes had crumbled bacon mixed right in the batter - Brilliant! Good coffee. Good service.

My wife and visited one morning in October on our way to the zoo. We were staying in downtown and found Out about Crest Cafe after doing a web search. It was a quick 10 minute drive with easy street parking. The cafe was welcoming and friendly with great service. The omelettes were amazing and you get a good portion size. I liked the friendly feel of the area too.

This was recommended by a friend & it was amazing!! The blueberry bundt French toast is to die for!! The cabo quesadilla rocked as well. Service was great. Small quaint delightful place.

We really enjoyed our evening meal at Crest Cafe after a day's sightseeing in San Diego. Our server couldn't have been more charming, nor more helpful. The cafe has a great vibe and the menu offers a huge range of delicious sounding food to try. We both had salads which were utterly delicious. Our server suggested their in-house basil vinaigrette to accompany our salads and he was right - it was excellent. The iced tea we had was amongst the best we've tasted, and both enjoyed our desserts - peach cobbler & apple pie. Would definitely return if we were in San Diego again and annoyed we found it on our last night!

My husband wanted to come here for breakfast one morning on our vacation in San Diego because we saw Guy Fieri had visited on his show Diners, Drive-ins, and Dives. Honestly, this place was pretty disappointing. Their pancakes did look pretty appetizing, and I'm sure they tasted great, but I had had them the day before and chose to just get eggs over easy, breakfast potatoes, and bacon. My husband got their standard eggs Benedict. The service was pretty quick, but the food was flavorless. No seasoning on my eggs or potatoes, and my husband was unimpressed with his Benedict. And it was also pretty pricey.

The place is a classic institution and a must if you are in the area. True comfort food at it's best. Good service. Wish it were bigger!

Originally I wanted to go to "Snooze" for breakfast but was not willing to wait over 1 hour to get a table. So I strolled around and found this place. The breakfast was just amazing and I am sure as good as the other place. Super friendly staff and I would definitely go back again.

After finding out hash house a go go was an hour wait, we decided to try crest cafe. Our table got a special pumpkin pancake (good), hash (good but a little surprised that it was ground meat, maybe old hamburgers?), croissant benediction (very good), and chocolate chip pancakes (did not try). Overall a decent meal. I would go back but not sure what all the hype was about.

The place was featured on Diners, Drive-ins and Dives so we thought we would try it. Good food, good service and a friendly atmosphere. Burgers were good and the hot fudge brownie sundae for dessert was excellent!

I visited the Crest Cafe for lunch on my recent tour through the Hilllcrest neighbourhood. I was dining alone which can always be a bit awkward but the guys at the Crest took great care of me! They were charming, convivial, and made me feel at home. I ordered the fish and chips. My server told me it was an unusually good catch that day and, let me tell you, the portion was gigantic. I finished off ever bite, however, because the fish was so fresh, flakey, and delicious with a nice light breading. I wish I could have had time to come back and try more before I had to return to the culinary black hole of a city I live in. I'll make it a point to return on my next visit to the city!

We went to the cafe after seeing it on TV. The French toast was amazing, probably the best I have ever had. The service was excellent. The coffee was good and it kept being refilled. So glad I made time to visit during my stay in San Diego

Wanted to love this family run cafe in Hillcrest but the non-existent, albeit friendly, waiter made it maddening. The so-so food didn't help, either. The hamburgers lacked flavor, the fries were limp and funky tasting, and the waiter could not be found for bringing extras once the meal was served. And there were only 2 other tables occupied! Even getting the check proved difficult. Disappointing overall.