(619) 295-2510
425 Robinson Ave
San Diego,
CA
92103
32.746933
-117.161291
Neighborhoods: Hillcrest, Western, Western San Diego
Years in business
Established in 1982
Hours:
Daily 7am-midnight
Price:
$$
Last updated 7.07.11
Category:
What People Are Saying About Crest Cafe
Featured Review
Contributor
Contributor
Hearty American entrees like catfish and pork chops with a selection of breakfast favorites, Mexican specialties, and sanwiches served at this retro diner.
Editor's Tips
- When to Go:
- Be aware that it gets packed--we've seen one hour waits--for weekend brunch.
| atmosphere | 100.0% positive |
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|---|---|---|
| drinks | 100.0% positive |
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| food quality | 83.33000183105469% positive |
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| menu variety | 100.0% positive |
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| overall | 100.0% positive |
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| service | 83.33000183105469% positive |
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| value | 100.0% positive |
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| wait time | 100.0% positive |
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homestyle
by tootuffforthis at Citysearch
I love eating here, but every time I go they keep raising the price. And the seating arrangements need some work. The staff is wonderful and always nice. I'd give them 5 stars but they need to work on their seating and prices.
- Pros: no frills food
- Cons: a little pricey
regular customer who loves my home away from home
by golfduffer at Citysearch
Ever since I moved to the area..which was at least 10 years ago...I have become a regular at the Crest Cafe. I see the owner there during my lunchtime visits and she is always very nice..and her staff is great and I see the same waiters everytime so I assume they have all been there awhile..I even recognize the cooks. The best way to describe this place is comfortable and fun..no pretense, family run.. they have consistently great well prepared food..their burgers I think might be the best in the area, and their salads are huge and mixed fresh..I really like that when you order a salad with chicken or steak the meat is sliced and hot!! That makes them super good. My favorite sandwich is the BTCA..bacon, tomato, cheese and avocado grilled. Wonderful. I know I can always count on the Crest Cafe!
Best service
by mayacooper at Citysearch
I have been coming to the crest cafe for years, and it is a great place to go, especially late at night because they serve the entire menu until then.Usually I am waited on by Jason who is frankly one of the best waiters in San Diego. He is sweet and very personable. The portions are generous and the prices are really great. On tuesdays they offer 1/2 bottles of wine which is great!!
I have also been there for breakfast lots of times and I especially like the Cabo Quesadilla with a really strong Latte! Wade usually waits on me and he is a cutie pie. Everyone has always treated me great, and they know me by name...I notice that that is true with lots of folks..there are a lot of regulars like me!!
- Pros: open from 7am to midnight..grest staff
- Cons: they dont deliver
Rudest owner ever!
by PJSanne at Citysearch
"I will only give one star to this restaurant, if I could I would give it half that.
It started when my husband and I wanted to have a well deserved night out and have been on a tight budget due to the high price of fuel (we live an hour north of San Diego so going anywhere is costly). We decided to eat at the Crest Cafe, which we had before, and knew that the food was decent and reasonable (so we thought )
We asked if they had any specials and the waiter said that a local paper had a coupon. We decided to find the coupon and of course there was not one paper to be found. We went back to the restaurant and the waiter said that they do not keep one in the cafe`. We decided we would split a burger, which the menu price was $9.95. Dinner arrived it was plated on two plates and was covered in fries. I asked the waiter if they use peanut oil and he said that they did and went to ask the kitchen, no one seemed to know what the type of oil they used. My husband, with the allergy, was asked by the waiter to make another choice and he chose potato salad.
When the bill came ..... 12.95 for the 9.95 burger ( a split meal charge of 3.00 ) which was not told to us that there was an extra charge. And a 2.50 for the potato salad. so our 9.95 budget burger with the " EXTRA " charges turned out to be a $17.00 burger. for a little more than a dollar, we could of bought a whole separate meal.
The next day I decided to contact the manager and found a cold unsympathetic, pushy, obstinate person that I have rarely seen in the restaurant community before. lets put it this way she could care less and couldn't be bothered. My advice is NOT to go to the Crest Cafe if you are on a budget and want to be treated fairly or if you think your patronage means anything. It seemed at this place it doesn't matter you are ONLY another dollar and not a valued customer. Needless to say I will never give them repeat business. and I do mean NEVER !!!"
- Pros: Great location!
- Cons: Worst owner ever thought possible.
Food is OK, Wait Staff is Rude
by morenocuentas at Citysearch
We were interested in trying a new place for breakfast one Sunday morning, and decided on Crest Cafe. They were very busy and recommended that we sit at the counter by the front door, as the wait would be over 40 minutes. BIG MISTAKE! The waitress was too busy serving her tables and seemingly appeared to forget (or not care) that we were also customers and deserved equal respect. She forgot half our order and then appeared appalled when I asked her for a refill on coffee. The food was not good enough to override the horrid service.
The Details on Crest Cafe
Place Categories:
- decent late night food
- favorite pork sandwich
- pleasant waiters
- fresh salads
- liked cabo quesadilla
- excellent sloppy joe
- nice cafe
- good pancakes
- good menu
- outstanding meat loaf
- not good food
- great prices
- great local favorite
- rude staff
- decent food
- mixed salads
- really great prices
- friendly service
- fantastic combination
- especially like cabo quesadilla
- best waiters
- best late night dining
- favorite sandwich
- very good pancakes
- great place
- great bottles
- good option
- best burgers


@crestcafesd |