(619) 295-2510

425 Robinson Ave
San Diego, CA 92103 32.746933 -117.161291

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Neighborhoods: Hillcrest, Western, Western San Diego

CRESTCAFE.NET

Years in business

Established in 1982

Hours:

Daily 7am-midnight

Price:

$$

Last updated 7.07.11

Category:

Restaurants

Restaurant Special Features:

Breakfast, Carry Out

Cuisine:

Traditional American

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
  1. nice cafe
  2. it is coffee shop atmosphere, with very pleasant waiters, and pretty good food.
drinks
100.0% positive
  1. On tuesdays they offer 1/2 bottles of wine which is great!
  2. it is coffee shop atmosphere, with very pleasant waiters, and pretty good food.
food quality
83.33000183105469% positive
  1. the food was decent and reasonable
  2. it is coffee shop atmosphere, with very pleasant waiters, and pretty good food.
  3. the food was not good enough.
  4. the pancakes were very good.
  5. My favorite sandwich is the BTCA.
  6. best late night food in hillcrest
  7. the first time i went i got the pork sandwich which was amazing because as well as the slaw inside.
  8. really like that when you order a salad with chicken or steak the meat is sliced and hot!
  9. their burgers I think might be the best in the area, and their salads are huge and mixed fresh.
  10. the sloppy joe is also excellent along with the wide array of pasta dishes and sandwiches available here.
  11. We decided to eat at the Crest Cafe, which we had before, and knew that the food was decent and reasonable (so we thought )
  12. my favorite sandwich is the btca.
  13. Crest Cafe serves up comfort food at reasonable prices.
  14. The food was not good enough to override the horrid service.
  15. their salads are huge and mixed fresh
  16. the salads and the meat loaf is very outstanding
menu variety
100.0% positive
  1. 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.
  2. i have also been there for breakfast lots of times and i especially like the cabo quesadilla with a really strong latte!
  3. for dinner, the menu is very good.
overall
100.0% positive
  1. 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.
  2. great local favorite.
  3. and it is a great place to go, especially late at night because.
  4. they close at midnight every night, so, you have to try city deli but a good option when.
service
83.33000183105469% positive
  1. staff is rude
  2. best service
  3. The staff is wonderful and always nice.
  4. Best service
  5. and her staff is great and I see the same waiters everytime so I assume they have all been there awhile.
  6. service is friendly.
  7. is frankly one of the best waiters in san diego
  8. it is coffee shop atmosphere, with very pleasant waiters, and pretty good food.
  9. Service is friendly.
  10. and her staff is great
  11. Usually I am waited on by Jason who is frankly one of the best waiters in San Diego.
  12. The food was not good enough to override the horrid service.
value
100.0% positive
  1. It is just a little off the main "strip" in Hillcrest, but offers some of the best late night dining in the area at very reasonable prices.
  2. the prices are really great
  3. their burgers I think might be the best in the area, and their salads are huge and mixed fresh.
  4. it is just a little off the main `` strip '' in hillcrest, but offers some of the best late night dining in the area at very reasonable prices.
  5. The portions are generous and the prices are really great.
  6. Crest Cafe serves up comfort food at reasonable prices.
  7. their salads are huge and mixed fresh
wait time
100.0% positive
  1. Somebody thought long and hard to come up with the fantastic combination of ingredients, like the butter.
4 Star Rating: Recommended

02/24/10

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
5 Star Rating: Highly Recommended

09/18/08

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!

5 Star Rating: Highly Recommended

09/18/08

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
1 Star Rating: Poor

08/24/08

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.
2 Star Rating: Below Average

02/20/08

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
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