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Name: Cafe 21
Address: 802 5th Ave, San Diego, CA, 92101
Telephone: (619) 795-0721
Price range: Under $11
Rating: 3.93

Cafe 21

802 5th Ave, San Diego, CA, 92101

(619) 795-0721
Store is closed

Cafe 21 Menu

Caf? 21 Cakes

Veggie

Shrimp Corn

Chicken Curry

Veggie

Shrimp Corn

Chicken Curry
Pancakes & French Toast

Strawberry

Classic

Blueberry

Seasonal

Strawberry Chocolate

Tiramisu Pancakes

Seasonal Bread Pudding Frech Toast

Strawberry

Classic

Blueberry

Seasonal

Strawberry Chocolate

Tiramisu Pancakes

Seasonal Bread Pudding Frech Toast
Cast Iron Dutch Pancakes

Sweet

Savory

Sweet

Savory
Crepes

Strawberry

Spinach

Prosciutto

Chicken

Turkey

Strawberry

Spinach

Prosciutto

Chicken

Turkey
Cast Iron Omelets

Lamb

Prosciutto

Steak

Short Rib

Feta

Shrimp

Scallop

Garden

Turkey

Lamb

Prosciutto

Steak

Short Rib

Feta

Shrimp

Scallop

Garden

Turkey
Salads

Grilled Pear

Strawberry Salad

Seafood Salad

Roasted Beet Tartare

Grilled Pear

Strawberry Salad

Seafood Salad

Roasted Beet Tartare
Sandwiches

PLT

Chicken or Shrimp Pesto

Monte Cristo

Apple Swiss

Roasted Eggplant

Presto Pesto

PLT

Chicken or Shrimp Pesto

Monte Cristo

Apple Swiss

Roasted Eggplant

Presto Pesto
House Specials

Farmers Board

Salmon Omelet

Chia Seed Yogurt Parfait

Beef Burger

Turkey Burger

Farmers Board

Salmon Omelet

Chia Seed Yogurt Parfait

Beef Burger

Turkey Burger
Sides

Fruit

Salad

Eggs

Prosciutoo

Soup

Chips

Potato Pancake

Extras

Fruit

Salad

Eggs

Prosciutoo

Soup

Chips

Potato Pancake

Extras

Healthy Meal suggestions for Cafe 21

Caf? 21 Cakes

Veggie [ Carbohydrates (ms): 0, Sodium (s): 0, Saturated Fat (ms) : 0, Calories: 0, Sugar (ms): 0 ]

Shrimp Corn [ Carbohydrates (ms): 0, Sodium (s): 0, Saturated Fat (ms) : 0, Calories: 0, Sugar (ms): 0 ]

Chicken Curry [ Carbohydrates (ms): 0, Sodium (s): 0, Saturated Fat (ms) : 0, Calories: 0, Sugar (ms): 0 ]

Veggie [ Carbohydrates (ms): 0, Sodium (s): 0, Saturated Fat (ms) : 0, Calories: 0, Sugar (ms): 0 ]

Shrimp Corn [ Carbohydrates (ms): 0, Sodium (s): 0, Saturated Fat (ms) : 0, Calories: 0, Sugar (ms): 0 ]

Chicken Curry [ Carbohydrates (ms): 0, Sodium (s): 0, Saturated Fat (ms) : 0, Calories: 0, Sugar (ms): 0 ]
Pancakes & French Toast

Strawberry [ Carbohydrates (ms): 0, Sodium (s): 0, Saturated Fat (ms) : 0, Calories: 0, Sugar (ms): 0 ]

Classic [ Carbohydrates (ms): 0, Sodium (s): 0, Saturated Fat (ms) : 0, Calories: 0, Sugar (ms): 0 ]

Blueberry [ Carbohydrates (ms): 0, Sodium (s): 0, Saturated Fat (ms) : 0, Calories: 0, Sugar (ms): 0 ]

Seasonal [ Carbohydrates (ms): 0, Sodium (s): 0, Saturated Fat (ms) : 0, Calories: 0, Sugar (ms): 0 ]

Strawberry Chocolate [ Carbohydrates (ms): 0, Sodium (s): 0, Saturated Fat (ms) : 0, Calories: 0, Sugar (ms): 0 ]

Tiramisu Pancakes [ Carbohydrates (ms): 0, Sodium (s): 0, Saturated Fat (ms) : 0, Calories: 0, Sugar (ms): 0 ]

Seasonal Bread Pudding Frech Toast [ Carbohydrates (ms): 0, Sodium (s): 0, Saturated Fat (ms) : 0, Calories: 0, Sugar (ms): 0 ]

Strawberry [ Carbohydrates (ms): 0, Sodium (s): 0, Saturated Fat (ms) : 0, Calories: 0, Sugar (ms): 0 ]

Classic [ Carbohydrates (ms): 0, Sodium (s): 0, Saturated Fat (ms) : 0, Calories: 0, Sugar (ms): 0 ]

Blueberry [ Carbohydrates (ms): 0, Sodium (s): 0, Saturated Fat (ms) : 0, Calories: 0, Sugar (ms): 0 ]

Seasonal [ Carbohydrates (ms): 0, Sodium (s): 0, Saturated Fat (ms) : 0, Calories: 0, Sugar (ms): 0 ]

Strawberry Chocolate [ Carbohydrates (ms): 0, Sodium (s): 0, Saturated Fat (ms) : 0, Calories: 0, Sugar (ms): 0 ]

Tiramisu Pancakes [ Carbohydrates (ms): 0, Sodium (s): 0, Saturated Fat (ms) : 0, Calories: 0, Sugar (ms): 0 ]

Seasonal Bread Pudding Frech Toast [ Carbohydrates (ms): 0, Sodium (s): 0, Saturated Fat (ms) : 0, Calories: 0, Sugar (ms): 0 ]
Cast Iron Dutch Pancakes

Sweet [ Carbohydrates (ms): 0, Sodium (s): 0, Saturated Fat (ms) : 0, Calories: 0, Sugar (ms): 0 ]

Savory [ Carbohydrates (ms): 0, Sodium (s): 0, Saturated Fat (ms) : 0, Calories: 0, Sugar (ms): 0 ]

Sweet [ Carbohydrates (ms): 0, Sodium (s): 0, Saturated Fat (ms) : 0, Calories: 0, Sugar (ms): 0 ]

Savory [ Carbohydrates (ms): 0, Sodium (s): 0, Saturated Fat (ms) : 0, Calories: 0, Sugar (ms): 0 ]
Crepes

Strawberry [ Carbohydrates (ms): 0, Sodium (s): 0, Saturated Fat (ms) : 0, Calories: 0, Sugar (ms): 0 ]

Spinach [ Carbohydrates (ms): 0, Sodium (s): 0, Saturated Fat (ms) : 0, Calories: 0, Sugar (ms): 0 ]

Prosciutto [ Carbohydrates (ms): 0, Sodium (s): 0, Saturated Fat (ms) : 0, Calories: 0, Sugar (ms): 0 ]

Chicken [ Carbohydrates (ms): 0, Sodium (s): 0, Saturated Fat (ms) : 0, Calories: 0, Sugar (ms): 0 ]

Turkey [ Carbohydrates (ms): 0, Sodium (s): 0, Saturated Fat (ms) : 0, Calories: 0, Sugar (ms): 0 ]

Strawberry [ Carbohydrates (ms): 0, Sodium (s): 0, Saturated Fat (ms) : 0, Calories: 0, Sugar (ms): 0 ]

Spinach [ Carbohydrates (ms): 0, Sodium (s): 0, Saturated Fat (ms) : 0, Calories: 0, Sugar (ms): 0 ]

Prosciutto [ Carbohydrates (ms): 0, Sodium (s): 0, Saturated Fat (ms) : 0, Calories: 0, Sugar (ms): 0 ]

Chicken [ Carbohydrates (ms): 0, Sodium (s): 0, Saturated Fat (ms) : 0, Calories: 0, Sugar (ms): 0 ]

Turkey [ Carbohydrates (ms): 0, Sodium (s): 0, Saturated Fat (ms) : 0, Calories: 0, Sugar (ms): 0 ]
Cast Iron Omelets

Lamb [ Carbohydrates (ms): 0, Sodium (s): 0, Saturated Fat (ms) : 0, Calories: 0, Sugar (ms): 0 ]

Prosciutto [ Carbohydrates (ms): 0, Sodium (s): 0, Saturated Fat (ms) : 0, Calories: 0, Sugar (ms): 0 ]

Steak [ Carbohydrates (ms): 0, Sodium (s): 0, Saturated Fat (ms) : 0, Calories: 0, Sugar (ms): 0 ]

Short Rib [ Carbohydrates (ms): 0, Sodium (s): 0, Saturated Fat (ms) : 0, Calories: 0, Sugar (ms): 0 ]

Feta [ Carbohydrates (ms): 0, Sodium (s): 0, Saturated Fat (ms) : 0, Calories: 0, Sugar (ms): 0 ]

Shrimp [ Carbohydrates (ms): 0, Sodium (s): 0, Saturated Fat (ms) : 0, Calories: 0, Sugar (ms): 0 ]

Scallop [ Carbohydrates (ms): 0, Sodium (s): 0, Saturated Fat (ms) : 0, Calories: 0, Sugar (ms): 0 ]

Garden [ Carbohydrates (ms): 0, Sodium (s): 0, Saturated Fat (ms) : 0, Calories: 0, Sugar (ms): 0 ]

Turkey [ Carbohydrates (ms): 0, Sodium (s): 0, Saturated Fat (ms) : 0, Calories: 0, Sugar (ms): 0 ]

Lamb [ Carbohydrates (ms): 0, Sodium (s): 0, Saturated Fat (ms) : 0, Calories: 0, Sugar (ms): 0 ]

Prosciutto [ Carbohydrates (ms): 0, Sodium (s): 0, Saturated Fat (ms) : 0, Calories: 0, Sugar (ms): 0 ]

Steak [ Carbohydrates (ms): 0, Sodium (s): 0, Saturated Fat (ms) : 0, Calories: 0, Sugar (ms): 0 ]

Short Rib [ Carbohydrates (ms): 0, Sodium (s): 0, Saturated Fat (ms) : 0, Calories: 0, Sugar (ms): 0 ]

Feta [ Carbohydrates (ms): 0, Sodium (s): 0, Saturated Fat (ms) : 0, Calories: 0, Sugar (ms): 0 ]

Shrimp [ Carbohydrates (ms): 0, Sodium (s): 0, Saturated Fat (ms) : 0, Calories: 0, Sugar (ms): 0 ]

Scallop [ Carbohydrates (ms): 0, Sodium (s): 0, Saturated Fat (ms) : 0, Calories: 0, Sugar (ms): 0 ]

Garden [ Carbohydrates (ms): 0, Sodium (s): 0, Saturated Fat (ms) : 0, Calories: 0, Sugar (ms): 0 ]

Turkey [ Carbohydrates (ms): 0, Sodium (s): 0, Saturated Fat (ms) : 0, Calories: 0, Sugar (ms): 0 ]
Salads

Grilled Pear [ Carbohydrates (ms): 0, Sodium (s): 0, Saturated Fat (ms) : 0, Calories: 0, Sugar (ms): 0 ]

Strawberry Salad [ Carbohydrates (ms): 0, Sodium (s): 0, Saturated Fat (ms) : 0, Calories: 0, Sugar (ms): 0 ]

Seafood Salad [ Carbohydrates (ms): 0, Sodium (s): 0, Saturated Fat (ms) : 0, Calories: 0, Sugar (ms): 0 ]

Roasted Beet Tartare [ Carbohydrates (ms): 0, Sodium (s): 0, Saturated Fat (ms) : 0, Calories: 0, Sugar (ms): 0 ]

Grilled Pear [ Carbohydrates (ms): 0, Sodium (s): 0, Saturated Fat (ms) : 0, Calories: 0, Sugar (ms): 0 ]

Strawberry Salad [ Carbohydrates (ms): 0, Sodium (s): 0, Saturated Fat (ms) : 0, Calories: 0, Sugar (ms): 0 ]

Seafood Salad [ Carbohydrates (ms): 0, Sodium (s): 0, Saturated Fat (ms) : 0, Calories: 0, Sugar (ms): 0 ]

Roasted Beet Tartare [ Carbohydrates (ms): 0, Sodium (s): 0, Saturated Fat (ms) : 0, Calories: 0, Sugar (ms): 0 ]
Sandwiches

PLT [ Carbohydrates (ms): 0, Sodium (s): 0, Saturated Fat (ms) : 0, Calories: 0, Sugar (ms): 0 ]

Chicken or Shrimp Pesto [ Carbohydrates (ms): 0, Sodium (s): 0, Saturated Fat (ms) : 0, Calories: 0, Sugar (ms): 0 ]

Monte Cristo [ Carbohydrates (ms): 0, Sodium (s): 0, Saturated Fat (ms) : 0, Calories: 0, Sugar (ms): 0 ]

Apple Swiss [ Carbohydrates (ms): 0, Sodium (s): 0, Saturated Fat (ms) : 0, Calories: 0, Sugar (ms): 0 ]

Roasted Eggplant [ Carbohydrates (ms): 0, Sodium (s): 0, Saturated Fat (ms) : 0, Calories: 0, Sugar (ms): 0 ]

Presto Pesto [ Carbohydrates (ms): 0, Sodium (s): 0, Saturated Fat (ms) : 0, Calories: 0, Sugar (ms): 0 ]

PLT [ Carbohydrates (ms): 0, Sodium (s): 0, Saturated Fat (ms) : 0, Calories: 0, Sugar (ms): 0 ]

Chicken or Shrimp Pesto [ Carbohydrates (ms): 0, Sodium (s): 0, Saturated Fat (ms) : 0, Calories: 0, Sugar (ms): 0 ]

Monte Cristo [ Carbohydrates (ms): 0, Sodium (s): 0, Saturated Fat (ms) : 0, Calories: 0, Sugar (ms): 0 ]

Apple Swiss [ Carbohydrates (ms): 0, Sodium (s): 0, Saturated Fat (ms) : 0, Calories: 0, Sugar (ms): 0 ]

Roasted Eggplant [ Carbohydrates (ms): 0, Sodium (s): 0, Saturated Fat (ms) : 0, Calories: 0, Sugar (ms): 0 ]

Presto Pesto [ Carbohydrates (ms): 0, Sodium (s): 0, Saturated Fat (ms) : 0, Calories: 0, Sugar (ms): 0 ]
House Specials

Farmers Board [ Carbohydrates (ms): 0, Sodium (s): 0, Saturated Fat (ms) : 0, Calories: 0, Sugar (ms): 0 ]

Salmon Omelet [ Carbohydrates (ms): 0, Sodium (s): 0, Saturated Fat (ms) : 0, Calories: 0, Sugar (ms): 0 ]

Chia Seed Yogurt Parfait [ Carbohydrates (ms): 0, Sodium (s): 0, Saturated Fat (ms) : 0, Calories: 0, Sugar (ms): 0 ]

Beef Burger [ Carbohydrates (ms): 0, Sodium (s): 0, Saturated Fat (ms) : 0, Calories: 0, Sugar (ms): 0 ]

Turkey Burger [ Carbohydrates (ms): 0, Sodium (s): 0, Saturated Fat (ms) : 0, Calories: 0, Sugar (ms): 0 ]

Farmers Board [ Carbohydrates (ms): 0, Sodium (s): 0, Saturated Fat (ms) : 0, Calories: 0, Sugar (ms): 0 ]

Salmon Omelet [ Carbohydrates (ms): 0, Sodium (s): 0, Saturated Fat (ms) : 0, Calories: 0, Sugar (ms): 0 ]

Chia Seed Yogurt Parfait [ Carbohydrates (ms): 0, Sodium (s): 0, Saturated Fat (ms) : 0, Calories: 0, Sugar (ms): 0 ]

Beef Burger [ Carbohydrates (ms): 0, Sodium (s): 0, Saturated Fat (ms) : 0, Calories: 0, Sugar (ms): 0 ]

Turkey Burger [ Carbohydrates (ms): 0, Sodium (s): 0, Saturated Fat (ms) : 0, Calories: 0, Sugar (ms): 0 ]
Sides

Fruit [ Carbohydrates (ms): 0, Sodium (s): 0, Saturated Fat (ms) : 0, Calories: 0, Sugar (ms): 0 ]

Salad [ Carbohydrates (ms): 0, Sodium (s): 0, Saturated Fat (ms) : 0, Calories: 0, Sugar (ms): 0 ]

Eggs [ Carbohydrates (ms): 0, Sodium (s): 0, Saturated Fat (ms) : 0, Calories: 0, Sugar (ms): 0 ]

Prosciutoo [ Carbohydrates (ms): 0, Sodium (s): 0, Saturated Fat (ms) : 0, Calories: 0, Sugar (ms): 0 ]

Soup [ Carbohydrates (ms): 0, Sodium (s): 0, Saturated Fat (ms) : 0, Calories: 0, Sugar (ms): 0 ]

Chips [ Carbohydrates (ms): 0, Sodium (s): 0, Saturated Fat (ms) : 0, Calories: 0, Sugar (ms): 0 ]

Potato Pancake [ Carbohydrates (ms): 0, Sodium (s): 0, Saturated Fat (ms) : 0, Calories: 0, Sugar (ms): 0 ]

Extras [ Carbohydrates (ms): 0, Sodium (s): 0, Saturated Fat (ms) : 0, Calories: 0, Sugar (ms): 0 ]

Fruit [ Carbohydrates (ms): 0, Sodium (s): 0, Saturated Fat (ms) : 0, Calories: 0, Sugar (ms): 0 ]

Salad [ Carbohydrates (ms): 0, Sodium (s): 0, Saturated Fat (ms) : 0, Calories: 0, Sugar (ms): 0 ]

Eggs [ Carbohydrates (ms): 0, Sodium (s): 0, Saturated Fat (ms) : 0, Calories: 0, Sugar (ms): 0 ]

Prosciutoo [ Carbohydrates (ms): 0, Sodium (s): 0, Saturated Fat (ms) : 0, Calories: 0, Sugar (ms): 0 ]

Soup [ Carbohydrates (ms): 0, Sodium (s): 0, Saturated Fat (ms) : 0, Calories: 0, Sugar (ms): 0 ]

Chips [ Carbohydrates (ms): 0, Sodium (s): 0, Saturated Fat (ms) : 0, Calories: 0, Sugar (ms): 0 ]

Potato Pancake [ Carbohydrates (ms): 0, Sodium (s): 0, Saturated Fat (ms) : 0, Calories: 0, Sugar (ms): 0 ]

Extras [ Carbohydrates (ms): 0, Sodium (s): 0, Saturated Fat (ms) : 0, Calories: 0, Sugar (ms): 0 ]

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Write An Anonymous Review

Maribeth G.

Great food!
(5)
Jacob Y.

Drinks were slow. Waited 30 plus minutes for the mixed fries. Drinks were slow coming out. Food was decent but nothing special. Really wanted to like this place, but the wait time killed it. Nice atmosphere, and good live music, but couldn't get over the poor service.
(2)
Sarah E.

Everything on their menu is amazing! And the server are super nice. I would go here just for their dirty chai in the morning! They're juices are all really good and made fresh. The servings are pretty big so you could easily split with a friend. They recently moved and they're new location is huge so it's a good place to go if you have a group too. They're always pretty busy so get a reservation in advance especially for weekends.
(5)
Wayne C.

We vacationed here and tried this place because of the good reviews. Our server was horrible. He messed up 2 out of 3 of our plates. I had a Monte Crisco and it was the worse one I have ever had. The turkey they used was so dry I couldn't even eat more than 3 or 4 bites. My son had the pancakes and they were good. My wife had a benedict that was not great. We left over half of our meals on the plate.
(2)
Kelly L.

Solid food. The mango salsa pancakes are amazing. Their spin on the typical eggs benedict are really yummy also - we had the shrimp/corn ones and they were awesome. Cute decor but the seats arent comforable so its not a spot you'd hang out in for houra (unless standing at the bar drinking their amazing sangria options! )
(3)
Robert A.

I tried the strawberry French toast. It was okay. The brioche just didn't absorb enough of the liquid as the edges of the toast were very dry. Love the mascarpone inside the toast as well as the strawberry and kiwi sauce on top. Would have loved more.
(2)
Vi T.

Cafe 21 has my heart. I started coming here a few years ago while in town for Comic Con. It has never let me down and is now part of my yearly Comic Con tradition. There have been years where I make two stops; it's that good. I've had quite a few things on the menu but on my last visit earlier this month, we had the prosciutto crepes and stuffed French toast. So good! The portions are pretty large (but not out of control) and the prices are reasonable. Their beverage choices are great too. Try their iced teas, bloody marys and sangria. All excellent. I have yet to have dinner here as I tend to do brunch but I think it might be time to give it a try next time I'm in town.
(5)
Katie B.

I almost don't want too many people knowing about this amazing place! Bloody Mary's I love- theirs is a feast!! Happy hour specials are out of this world. Even better is they are the same company as zymology 21, this company is impressing and consistently fresh! The loving herb wall is pretty cool as well!
(5)
Sherri S.

The food was excellent. We tried the flatbread as an appetizer and were pleasantly surprised. The bread was stuffed and came with excellent sauces and a delicious green salad. The curry scallops were very good too just a hint of curry not overpowering. The best part of the meal was the bread pudding absolutely to die for. The only drawback was the service was a little slow but we didn't mind too much as there was plenty of street life entertainment. Overall a good dining experience.
(5)
Ryanne P.

Awesome organic Peruvian coffee, even better cast-iron cooked omelets, even better potato side with mozzarella cheese baked into the center. This place has some style and the good food to back it up. If tea is your thing, looks like they have quite a few varieties and some signature loose leaf for home brewing, as well.
(5)
Tommy G.

Food is always fresh and delicious, cool vibe and decore. would recommend going here for brunch and dinner. . craft cocktails are Yum!
(5)
Emily O.

Came here with J on a Saturday during one of my visits to San Diego. To start it off, the line to even be seated is confusing as hell. We stood in a line but it's right smack dab in the middle of the tables but behind the door that we assumed was the front door and we decided to get in line because obviously that must be a line to be seated right? Well, after 10 minutes, no one came to ask any of the people in line the number in their party or names. Maybe we were in the wrong line... So we get out of the line and actually go inside where there seems to be a hostess desk and the people behind us in line had followed us. I suppose they got tired of waiting as well. Suddenly, the people that were standing in front of us said, "The line starts here" in a rude way. Oh wow sorry, couldn't even tell the effing difference because nobody had attended to us!!! Really, really terrible first impression... I already had a bad taste in my mouth. After that, this lady (manager?) finally came to us. They seat you in the order that you arrive, no matter many people are in your party. They are VERY inefficient at seating us and how they seemed very disorganized. The couple that told us basically not to cut were regulars and were treated with a smile and a "Hi! Welcome back" blah blah blah. When the manager lady got to us, she asked how many people in our party and told us there was a table ready and that we would get seated immediately. Did we? No. We waited another 10 minutes even though we saw a table for two OPEN right in the middle of the restaurant!!! We thought she had forgotten about us. All this hassle just to get a freaking seat??? Oh it doesn't end there. Our waiter was nice but was forgetful. I don't know if we just came on a bad day or what but before we ordered any food, I had asked him for the sangria flavors. He said he had to go check because the flavors differed every day. He came back 15 minutes later and asked if we were ready to order and when we said yes, he just looked at us expectantly. Except it was really awkward because we were waiting for him to tell us the sangria flavors he had available..... So there was a moment of silence until I said, "Umm, so what sangria flavors do you have?" The waiter basically smacks himself in the head and goes, "I forgot to check. I'll go do that right now. I'll be RIGHT BACK!!!" as I started to tell him that it was fine, I didn't need to know anymore. We ordered some tropical sangria thing and I disliked the flavor. For a place that shows off their sangria flavors in their "waiting area", I expected more yummyness. I had the shrimp cast iron omelette with a potato pancake & J had the short rib omelette with Italian prosciutto. It comes with a slice of bread and tons of butter. The food was okay, but the prices seem to be semi-expensive for a platter of this food. J really liked their omelette though. I don't want to go back just because the service was so sucky. When service is terrible, it makes my food taste terrible too...
(2)
Ms T.

Okay food, TERRIBLE SERVICE!!!!!! I really wanted to like this place. We were seated quickly and menus were brought. We were seated upstairs and there were 3 large parties in the room. It was Memorial Day weekend so we figured it would be a little crazy. The waitress came over, took our drink order and couldn't have been nicer. She brought the drinks and took our dinner order--an appetizer and 2 entrees. We said, "we'll start with the appetizer." We also asked for 2 glasses of water. Again, she couldn't have been nicer. FORTY minutes later, we had no appetizer, no food and no water. (we asked for water 4 times!!) Our waitress was taking very good care of the larger parties though. They got refills and water. Although she kept saying she was checking on our food she was either at another table or at the computer adding up a bill. People in the restaurant seated after us got their food before we did!! Our appetizer never came! The water eventually did. Our entrees came, room temperature. By that time we were so hungry we just ate and asked for the bill. Nothing special about the food. She never even asked us if we wanted or needed anything else. The waitress claimed she had no idea what happened and blamed it on the busy kitchen. I think she failed to pick up the appetizer in a timely manner as she was too busy with the larger parties and a potentially bigger tip! To her credit she took off the charge for the appetizer without a problem and actually gave us a small discount. This seems to be the new trendy restaurant in the area. My suggestion--either go with a large group (you'll hopefully get good service and attention!) or just wait until it's not so trendy or maybe until it's managed better! There's lots of restaurants to choose from, the menu here is just okay and the service anywhere else has got to be better!
(2)
Taylor R.

Went to Cafe 21 for the first time today based on an article I read claiming they had a great Bloody Mary....tried the Classic Mary and the Ol' Yello Mary, honestly was not impressed with either! The food on the other hand was delicious! We both ordered omelets and they did not disappoint! I would definitely recommending stopping in for brunch, just don't go only for the Bloody Mary's!
(4)
Sarah L.

My friends and I had a reunion in San Diego not too long ago and decided to check out Cafe 21 for Sunday brunch. I was pleasantly surprised by the service, food, decor and overall experience here. Cafe 21 has a farm to table approach to their menu with organic, local, farm fresh produce. At first glance, I was intrigued by their stuffed toast and Cafe 21 Cakes, which is their version of the eggs benedict. The host/manager was amazing! He sat us down and literally sat with us to talk about the menu. I think he spent at least 10 minutes just chatting with us and really giving his opinions on the best items on the menu. You can't have brunch without a bloody mary and boy does Cafe 21 know how to make one! It had a huge prawn coming out of it with skewered pickled veggies...beautiful and delicious. I ordered the shrimp corn cakes ($13)...2 cakes topped with a poached eggs and a nice cilantro cream sauce. It wasn't heavy and tasted very fresh due to the cilantro, fresh corn and micro greens. Portions for the cakes were on the small side so I highly recommend splitting a stuffed toast with strawberries with your friends. Super decadent but it was a nice compliment to any of their savory dishes. I love the lively atmosphere, innovative menu, and impeccable service. I would highly recommend this place for brunch while staying at the Gaslamp!
(5)
Kelly C.

had an awesome experience here for brunch with my friends :) but beware.. they are super popular on the weekends.. we had to wait an hr for a party of 5 around 10am.. service was fabulous! when we sat down, we had a great big welcome from the staff. the waiter (I forgot his name) just made our experience very enjoyable and engaging. his flamboyant and warm persona really made our time at cafe 21 fun, relaxing and memorable. the food was good! i ordered the scallops and eggs in pesto. very unique-- at least i've never had a bunch dish like it~ though, the entree is VERY filling. not just the scallops alone but the scramble egg on the skillet cooked on olive oil can be a bit heavy on the stomach if you're not used to it. i picked the strawberry salad on the side which i simply ADORED!!! i actually wanted more of that b/c it was sooo delicious! super appetizing and light tasting, a total contra balance to the eggs. my boyfriend got the tiramisu pancakes which were fantastic! it's very sweet! so if you don't have that sweet tooth, you might not want to order this.. you do have the choice of getting 3 pancakes or 5. just fyi they are also very filling~ good to share with the table or actually get it as a dessert. i think it would go great with a cup of joe~ overall, i really enjoyed my dining experience here. the downside is the wait and the loud atmosphere. i personally still prefer brunch at snooze but cafe 21 was totally worth checking out :) if i'm ever in the area, i will be back!
(4)
Ryan L.

Everything was going well, until a small roach came crawling out of my salad. Staff wasn't much help and still charged us , sucks. Would have been good otherwise
(1)
Togi M.

This place is perfect for brunch! We were here several times and loved it! They have great selections for omelettes, and a lot of choices for sides too. Its a little bit on the pricey side but totally worth it. The happy hour here is pretty awesome as well. Cant wait to be back!
(5)
Meg G.

I am clearly a glutton for punishment - and for Cafe 21! After being in the service industry for years I always give restaurants the benefit of the doubt if I experience questionable service. This isn't the first time with Cafe 21. I even tend to blame myself for coming in during the busiest times, BUT this time, I went to Cafe 21 on a WEDNESDAY at 2pm- and still the service was laughable. Literally we had to laugh at some point because it was that off. I was meeting with a Manager from another popular Gaslamp restaurant to chat about some business opportunities. I thought Cafe 21 would be a great neutral spot to meet up. When we arrived we got a great table outside and with the restaurant not being bombarded with their usual line, I thought this time will be great... So it starts with us ordering a hot Tea and a coffee/tea combo. At this point a few different people approached our table, so I wasn't sure who the water/waitress was. Who I assume is the waitress comes and sets a cute little tea contraption on our table and tells me she will be right back because she can't locate one of the ingredients (cardamon) for my coffee/tea drink but 'even if she can't find it, don't worry it still tastes good.' She rushes off, and my friend begins to pour her tea, but what we didn't know is that you can't pour it, it just sits on top of the cup and the hot water comes out from the bottom. So as she pours, the boiling hot water spills all over her hand! Meanwhile the waitress comes back with my drink (never found the missing ingredient) and when she sees my friend is holding her hand in pain, says 'oh don't worry, it doesn't look that bad.' When it continued to burn, I ran over to the bar to ask for ice because she is clearly in pain from the boiling water, and the bartender who is chatting with a server looks at me confused and then starts to get the ice. The waitress (who I then find out is a Manager) walks over and asks if I am getting her ice, and tells me to sit down she will bring over the ice. OKAY. So she comes over with the ice and we order our food. The food comes out rather quickly, and waiter #2 (maybe it was #3 at this point) notices that I don't have any silverware. He asks me "would you like some silverware?' WELL. We both ordered the Prosciutto/goat cheese crepe salad, so probably eating a salad with a fork would be a good idea especially since now I need to redeem myself a little bit. Yes, please silverware would be nice. So normally, a lack in service can be overlooked with really amazing food, usually. I love this salad, because how can you go wrong!?! All of the flavors and colors combined, it really is nice. Put enough goat cheese on anything, and we can forget this ever happened. But I was wrong. The salad came out with half cooked shrimp on it (they were still pink) and missing the pomegranate seeds which is why my friend ordered this particular salad. We ask the waiter (a new one) to bring out some pomegranate seeds and he said "oh its probably because we ran out". I politely said, it would be really nice if maybe he could check for us. A few minutes later he came out with a huge plate of pomegranate seeds, and says "yea, we did have some, and they are delicious! I just ate a few!' haha. This is the point where we just had to laugh. We finish the meal and then we are given the check with the Tea that almost burned my friends hand off and drink missing the cardamon they couldn't find. I ask the manager/waitress to take the drinks off the bill which she kindly did and I must say I appreciated it! Cafe 21 has a great menu and I have been many times, but the service really takes away from what they are trying to accomplish there. Service is So important especially in the Gaslamp where there are over 200 places to choose from. I guess my love for goat cheese just keeps pulling me back! If I do venture back to Cafe 21 in the future, ill be sure to bring my own first aid kit, cardamon, silverware, and pomegranate seeds!
(2)
Mario G.

The amount of scrutiny of received from my friends for not having been here is unreal. So I went with my fiancÃ© and my friends during San Diego's annual hell hole convention we know as comic con. And I say hell hole because usually every place in downtown these four days basically lose their minds. The amount of hungry storm troopers and dead jokers that pack all restaurants usually keep all the locals away for the time being. I decided to try them out Thursday of comic con to see if they could provide awesome service along with kick ass food (get the reference :D)... Well they did.... The food was so good I felt bad for not trying them earlier. The shrimp pesto sandwich and filet mignon omelette were outta control, their unsweetened black tea was some of the best I've had. Not to mention the waiter, but I personally feel bad for not remembering his name and giving him a shout out. This guys was awesome. Never had us waiting for anything and looked genuinely happy to be there. I'll stop here, before i start sound more like a fanboy, cheers
(4)
Raymond L.

Cafe 21, the perfect spot to go to after a night of drinking and debauchery provided by the Gaslamp Quarter. Lol. Came here during Sunday brunch, of course, it was quite busy with many patrons waiting outside the restaurant to be seated. Surprisingly, the wait for our table was not too long. Only about 20(?) minutes, but couldn't complain much under the sunny sky of San Diego. **Advice** Be sure to be around when your party name is called cause the Host is not so merciful for those who thought they could put their name down and then lollygag around town. I thought it was brilliant! Especially for those who patiently wait at the restaurant (like myself). We ordered the Prosciutto Cast Iron Omelet and Prosciutto Crepes. Can you tell we like Prosciutto? The omelet was comes in a modest cast iron plate served with a slice of bread and some fruits. The omelet was very delicious. The mixture of the tomatoes, mushrooms, and saltiness from the prosciutto make it hard to stop eating. The crepe was very fresh and soft, served with some avocado give it a good finish. Cafe 21 is an awesome restaurant that you need to check out. It is definitely worth the wait if it's busy.
(5)
Olga L.

The food was good (I had the strawberry pancakes one day, and the strawberry French toast the other). The service was horrible: I thought that maybe our first visit was bad because it was busy, so we decided to give it another shot the next day. The waiter (different waiter) forgot our order AGAIN. We didn't all eat our food together because the food came at different times. If I ever go to San Diego again, I will try another place instead.
(3)
Mechelle W.

OMG. Best breakfast spot I have ever had in SD hands-down. I definitely recommend the Mimosa flight ( You honestly need to at least try if it is your first time here. I promise it won't be your last. ) I don't even care about mentioning what I ordered. All the food is so damn delicious and the staff is as friendly as it gets. Excellent vibe, excellent atmosphere, excellent food and drinks. Shout out to Katie for taking care of us. I recommend this place to anyone on any occasion!
(5)
K J.

Breakfast was very good. Had an omelet and the eggs were a bit overcooked. But I still enjoyed it. Service wasn't great but I'd eat there again and give it another try! They don't have an espresso machine which seems odd. My husband liked the Prosciutto omelet. I liked the artisan bread toast. Portions are large.
(4)
Ken H.

Came here for Mother's Day with a large party the place has a great environment. Are waitress Jennifer was amazing. The bad thing was it was very hot inside and was smoky made the experience bad.hopefully they get ac and a fan for the smoke.
(3)
Matt L.

I went here for breakfast, and it was spectacular! The service was quick, kind, and knowledgeable abput their menu, and the wrap I ordered....it was fantastic. If you are looking for a breakfast place in San Diego, look no further!
(5)
Kelieda C.

Came on Memorial Day for breakfast. Got us in pretty quick and the food was excellent! Had the sangria (all of them) and the salmon diamond omelet. I always take my visitors to this place. It is now my favorite restaurant in Sam Diego.
(5)
Julia G.

Wow. I have been a huge fan of Cafe 21. I recommend it to people all the time, and have been going there since I moved to SD. My last visit there, last night, was awful. We arrived during Happy Hour, were seated quickly, given menus, and our waiter came to us quickly for drink orders. Everything seems up to standard. However, it took him OVER 30 minutes to bring one glass of Sangria. By the time it arrived, happy hour was over (Guess what they charged for the glass- yep! Full price. Classy). We ordered some tapas, which were really not tasty. I ended up getting food poisoning. We asked for our check, and waited about 30 minutes for it to arrive. We notice we were overcharged, and ask him to fix the charges. Another 20 minutes. By the time we were FINALLY able to pay, we agreed to not come back ever again. Cafe 21- I don't know what happened. You used to be a GREAT little restaurant. A hidden gem downtown. Since changing locations, it seems like the quality has really gone down.
(1)
Andrea K.

Adorbs! Cafe 21 has cornered the market on cuteness. We stopped in for breakfast last Monday morning so there was no wait. I love the concept of this cafe- a vareity of sangrias, mimosas, and infused liquors as well as farm fresh and organic ingredients. I had the salmon diamonds and Hubs had the PLT (Prociutto, lettuce, and tomato) with a side of over easy eggs. Most of the entrees come with a choice of side except for the salmon diamonds, due to its size. The salmon diamonds were delicious but it was a little too much of the same thing. I'd have preferred one less "diamond" and a choice of side instead- just to mix it up- and maybe a salsa or something acidic to go with it. Hubs enjoyed his sandwich and eggs. The prociutto was delicious. If we lived in the area, I imagine we'd return many times.
(4)
Stephanie P.

I think Yelp is easily seduced by presentation. Our meal was awful. Here's why. First, it took 20 minutes to get seated. Okay. Busy Sunday, we'll stand outside and get some Vit-D, no prob. But then it took 10 minutes to get our coffee *ordered* much less delivered. Then it took another 10 minutes for our food order. And then we waited 45 minutes for our food. When it arrived, my meal (the Farmer's Board, the more elaborate of our two orders) had clearly been sitting. The steak was cold, the eggs were tepid, the butter on my bread had melted, and the cured salmon was room temp. My husband's pancakes, however, were piping hot so --- good job on that! I guess! The plating is great. Everything *looked* beautiful, though upon lifting my toast I found my salad had wilted (probably from sitting, dressed, while the pancakes got done). So how did it taste? Well...temp aside, both the conserves were overwhelmingly sweet. The steak and salmon were agreeable, and the cheese was a nice brie. But the salad that dominated the plate had a flavorless dressing that did no favors. Zero zing, it might as well have been dressed with water. And the pickles alternated between okay and terrible. The cucumbers were gross, the kimchi? had no bite, and both the roasted carrots AND beets were *unsalted* and unmarinated at a place that doesn't put salt on its table, so that was a big no. My husband's panackes were good, but at $13 a plate I expect a little more than just a few dots of rhubarb-strawberry sauce. Also, WTF is the point of priding yourself on local produce and organic blah blah blah if you're going to serve your pancakes with LOG CABIN SYRUP? What. the. hell. It's clear the owners of both Cafe 21 and Zymology 21 have plating and presentation down to a science. Both restaurants have a "vibe" and both *look* great. But their flavors are OFF. There's very little acid and seasoning. Everything just comes off as SWEET, with little subtlety. Their coffee is terrible, and while the server nicely comped our coffees when it became clear we had waited way, way too long, it doesn't make up for his spotty service (probably because they need more hands in the kitchen and on the floor) and the terrible, overpriced food. Don't believe the hype. PASS.
(1)
Ryan H.

We went on Valentines day so of course the service wasn't the best but they were working their butts off, so I can't complain. They ran out of a lot of items on the menu towards the end of the night which was disappointing as well. The food was amazing and different. The menu was very unique and a little something for everyone. From vegetarian entrees to meat loving specials, they had it all. If you are in the mood for some drinks but don't know what to get I would suggest to get the flight deck. It's a sample of six different mojito's or sangria's. Although the mojito's didn't have too much mint in them we tried both flight decks and had a blast! My only complaint is the resturaunt is pretty tight as it is and on Valentines night it was someone's bright idea to have a 1950s swing band and their groupies come. Several times I got hit from a swinging girl dancing while trying to eat. The restaurant has poor sound control so if you are looking for a place to sit down and have a conversation, this is not it. It may have been because this was Valentines day but all in all I still highly recommend this place.
(3)
Kristina J.

My friend Thu flew in for the weekend..and we wanted to start our weekend off right...so we came here for their Mimosa Flights! Each came with a good amount of champagne with fresh juice! My favs were cucumber and kiwi...so light and refreshing! For food...my friend and I split the Short Rib omelette and Tiramisu pancakes. The Short Rib omelette came in a cute little cast iron skillet..a detail I'm sure only girls would appreciate...but I LOVE little things like that! ;) The eggs were fluffy...and the short rib was nicely cooked...very tender and fell apart easily when you pulled at it with a fork. However, I could have done without the Gorgonzola cheese. I felt like it overpowered the other flavors in the dish...we actually ended up scooping it off. And those tiramisu pancakes...OMG!!! It was heaven... not too overly sweet which is how I like it...we got the full order of 5 pancakes and finished the plate! Overall my experience here was delightful from beginning to end! The host was energetic and playful and when he called us to be seated he said.."Thu for two" haha. The waitress was pleasant and attentive as well and gave us a coupon for our next visit! (12% off brunch or 21% off dinner)
(5)
Moran E.

Wow !!!!!!!!!! Great location , friend staff and the food was the bomb !!!!Great presentation, taste excellent, portions you can definitely share exclamation coming back here for sure !!!!!
(5)
Jessica M.

Good for Sunday brunch, but be prepared to get here early and wait at least 25 minutes for a table. The service is very slow, we waited another 25 minutes for someone to even give us menus once we were seated! Waited an additional 20 minutes to get our drinks, meanwhile there were floaties in the water, and we were told they don't have a milk steamer so no lattes for us. Finally, after another 35 minutes our food arrived. I got the walnut banana pancakes, which were dry, two were burnt, and almost devoid of bananas. So all in all we timed over an hour from being seated, we got our pancakes! They've expanded fairly recently, and the place looks great. Relaxed, modern decor. I wonder if they expanded in space but not wait staff. Still sitting here, waiting for the check...20 minutes and counting.
(2)
Mrs. J.

Breakfast gem! This place is great specially for breakfast. If you are here for breakfast you must try their stuffed french toast, is so good you will be hooked for life. Crepes are also spectacular! they also have a variety of pancakes and omelettes, I love the proisutto omelette! If you don't make it for Breakfast, be sure to try their tapas at happy hour, and the sangrias are also really good, I always go for the classics but I know the downtown location has some wacky combinations. Dinner options are not disappointing either. Overall, this a great place to have breakfast, meet with friends for drinks and tapas, or nice quiet date night.
(5)
Jessica F.

Where to begin? First I will say the food was delicious but luke warm . But from there it's a disaster. We showed up early for our reservation and were told to sit at the bar. No one acknowledged us for the entire ten minutes we sat there, until finally our table was ready so onward we went. It took a while for our waiter to come around - but in the meantime we were offered everyone's else's food and drinks. This literally happened 5 times. I've never been offered so much food I didn't order. Our waiter arrives and he's in a good mood. When I say good I mean his entire response to "we're good how are you" was to shrug his shoulders and say "I'm here". Oh goodie. It's always fun to eat where your server is visibly pissed. But still we journey forth on our dinner disaster. Long story short we waited FOREVER for our food. During our wait our fellow passengers on this ride to culinary hell are leaving. We saw two tables actually leave the restaurant due to either having to wait so long or the quality of the food they received. It was super awkward. But no matter once they left their table was unceremoniously wiped down and prepped for the next couple to wait. Our food was always "on its way" but it did finally arrive and as noted was decent. An apology goes a long way and I didn't hear a single apology uttered to any of the flock of people pissed in our section. Although I think the manager did come by our table while we were leaving to ask if he could take our chair. Bang up job guys. Also the bathroom looked like someone threw a rave.
(2)
Madison R.

Great food!! Amazing service!! Defiantly try the flight! 6 different flavors of mimosas!!
(5)
Greg C.

Service was slow, food is pricey and crepes came out luke warm. Got there before the rush but still took 20+ min to get food. Ordered a lamb omelet and the whole dish felt lazy. Lamb, cheese and peppers just thrown on top. Side of fruit was barely edible. Kiwi slices had skin still on and pineapple wasn't cored, again... Felt lazy. Saw others around us send food back.
(2)
Joey R.

I recently had dinner here on a Saturday night. I had the turkey burger which was delicious. I was seated at the bar. Just when I was about to pay my bill, I noticed 2-3 cockroaches climbing on the cabinet wall where they had their spirit's and fresh herbs. My friend and I brought it to the attention of the bartender and she proceeded to tell us to not pay any attention to it and that "we're in downtown, what do you expect?" I was a little flabbergasted on how she dismissed the whole thing. Anyway, I hope they get pest control operators. I'd imagine that cockroache's crawling on the walls can be bad for business. I posted a picture of one of the roaches for proof. I would've given cafÃ© 21 4 stars if it weren't for those roaches.
(2)
Jacqueline K.

The food was pretty good except for the cold pancakes. It was very clear that they were short staffed. It started with the bar tender being on break, and the person backing them up was also serving tables and therefore did not have time to also make drinks. Our server was so busy that he did not notice when we were out of coffee and water. When he did bring coffee he only filled two out of three cups and did not ask if we needed more milk. I understand that it was understaffed, but I only knew that because I overheard someone saying that. We had to ask twice for syrup.
(2)
Judi E.

Happened to come in just at the right time for their happiest hour today from 3-6pm! All tapas were just $5 and best of all their sangria flight was just $10.50, which was half the price it normally is! It was the same size as the regular priced flight and came with 6 different sangrias. Best. Deal. Ever. Definitely fun to try with a friend! Service and food was amazing as usual! I tried the avocado fries with aioli sauce today and they were perfect! Trouble with parking? It's not even a 5 minute walk from Horton Plaza, which I love! Shopping and yummy food all in one day!
(5)
Aram S.

Can't beat farm fresh ingredients. Fantastic food and drinks...highly recommended!
(5)
Hana O.

Came here for a Saturday brunch and the food was incredible. Excellent service and a drink menu that seriously delivers. I've never had such a hard time deciding what to get to drink. I'd come back just for the coffee.
(5)
Planet F.

Second time here and it was AMAZING. I get the chicken pesto and soup as a side. Tried soups as my sides both time I went here and they were yummy. Only bad part was it was extremely hot inside the restaurant and outside so we were sweating the whole time we were eating. Maybe they can work on get ac inside during hot days. But aside from that it was delicious !! I recommend anyone try this place
(5)
Anabell A.

The service here is great. The people are all so friendly. The wait can be long, but it isn't too bad. The food is amazing. Definitely coming back.
(5)
Cristina B.

Came here on a busy Sunday morning for brunch. Food was good, service was okay. Ambiance is cool but LOUD! All in all it was an okay experience.
(3)
Derrick C.

We sat at the bar on Sunday evening around 10:30pm and ordered specialty cocktails. The bartender was an amazing mixologist and she was very friendly. Not a heavy pourer but enough to make you feel like she cared. Everyone from the bar backs to the manager was very friendly and welcoming. The live band (an older set of gentlemen) had it crackin' with soulful sounds that made you want to get up and dance. I ordered chicken skewers from the late night menu. The chicken came out grilled to perfection on a bed of mixed greens with a flavorful pesto style sauce on the side. One word, delicious! I will definitely be back for a drink and possibly something from the dinner menu. I hear it's really good.
(4)
Nelce S.

Start the day right with a tiramisu pancake . Came with a stack of 5 shareable pieces this isy favorite item on its menu with the mascarpone oozing fri the top. Shrimp omelet is a pleasant surprise with lots of big shrimp and spinach greens. Staff is welcoming and non obtrusive. Cafe 21 is truly in a better position (no pun intended) and arguably the best bed for breakfast in gaslamp.
(5)
Liana D.

Very impressed with this place! We went to visit my friend in San Diego for the weekend and she took us to Cafe 21 for brunch. First off, their customer service is amazing! Every server we had contact with was on their A game. Onto their food, we ordered family style so we could all try a little bit of everything. We got the tiramisu pancakes, chicken curry, strawberry stuffed toast, blueberry soufflÃ© pancake, and the spinach and pork flat breads. I really liked that everything on the menu plays up common American breakfast dishes. My favorite dishes would probably be the blueberry soufflÃ© pancake and the spinach flat bread. Definitely want to come back to try different dishes on their menu!
(4)
Tony P.

EAT HERE! What a great place! The atmosphere is friendly and casual, even romantic. The staff is attentive but not overbearing. The food is phenomenal. In a world of chain Hell, this place stands out for interesting and complex flavors. It is not inexpensive, but the portions are generous. I had the avocado fries and the lamb loin. Both were great, beyond expectation. Why aren't you here yet?
(5)
K B.

Non traditional breakfast food but unique ingredients and delicious. I had an egg white omelet with feta, spinach, and pumpkin. It was quite good. Service was quick and friendly. Not overly expensive. Nice outside seating.
(4)
Imma P.

Place looks really nice, Nice waitress. Good service. I got the prosciutto omelet. Contain tomatoes and mushrooms. Eggs and the veggies were at a nice balance but the prosciutto was too salty. For the side, I got soup. The soup was turkey bean for that day. It was really good. It's a nice place to go with a girl ;) For the price it is not worth it. But, it was a nice experience.
(3)
Matias D.

I have been here once with a friend and never going back again. Portions are small and overpriced. Serving only two kind of beers in the hearth of gaslamp, are you kidding me? We ordered two beers that they have and it tasted like water. We told the server that there is something wrong with the beer and replace it with a bottle of red wine. At the end of meal we received the check including the beers. Restroom was very dirty.So who would go back or recommend a place like this.
(1)
Ariel B.

While visiting San Diego, staying in the Gaslamp district with my dad over father's day and needing a brunch place after an early 7 mile run, I picked Cafe 21 based on the yelp reviews and it's walkability from our hotel. I'm so glad I did! The line was long, but we waited only 15 minutes for a table without a reservation. And the decor is great-- it's a bright, sunny spot with modern furnishings and, like, a lot of juice/fancy water options. I have a severe egg allergy, so brunch is always a stressful meal for me-- no french toast, pancakes, or, obviously, eggs. Luckily for me, Cafe 21 had several vegan/vegetarian options and I was able to get a delicious roasted pear salad that didn't make me wish for french toast even once. (Okay, maybe once). The espresso machine was out of order, but their house coffee was strong as heck.
(4)
Caitlin G.

paid a visit to cafe 21 with my sister and a friend. we were on the hunt for gourmet bloody mary's in the area, and this spot was the most enticing. while the bloody marys (we tried 2 of the 4 options) may not have been THE best, 5 stars goes to the service from our bartender Tony. he was absolutely wonderful. from our first order, he offered to mix and match, recreate, find drinks for each of us that best suit our individual palettes. we ended up trying some champagne cocktails....which was new for us. and he makes his own syrups or nectars (some kind of flavoring). this was a monday night that we went, so maybe we wouldn't have gotten such attention on a weekend night, but then hey...try it out on a monday. other service from our waitress wasn't as ideal. the fondue (four cheese with fennel, sounding phenomenal) is NOT recommended. THE DUCK WINGS were great! and the COBB SALAD was delish. (don't recommend the tandoori salad, we ordered & returned b/c it wasn't what we had pictured at all.) all in all. will be returning :)
(5)
Marilu A.

Favorite place to have brunch. From the drinks to the food everything is delicious. It will cost you quite a buck but it will be well worth it. The chocolate chip pancakes with the raspberry sauce are to die for!
(5)
Jaye S.

This was easily the best bloody mary I have ever had. For starters it was made with yellow heirloom tomatoes. Then garnished with celery, red bell pepper, cucumber, basil, lemon, lime, a mushroom and a grilled cheese sandwich. A grilled cheese sandwich!
(5)
Riley M.

The place is beautifully decorated and looks great. The food was pretty good, but the service was absolutely terrible! At one point there were 3 staff members waiting to greet people at the door while we were sitting right next to them with empty glasses being completely ignored. Seems they're more interested in looking pretty and doing f#ck all!
(1)
N O.

This place always has a crowd; a good sign. Great design and nice food. The chicken pesto sandwich with strawberry vinaigrette salad is so solid, with enough for leftovers if you are a cheapo, as we all are sometimes. Only reason I don't give it 5 stars is some flubs on their part during my half dozen visits. Once had a smelly glass; another time they did my order wrong and it took a while to get it corrected. Definitely have 5 star potential, just a matter of execution. They'll likely get there eventually.
(4)
Jason S.

The wife and I stopped in one Saturday, sat at the bar to eat. Bartender was amazing and happy to be there. We went off her recommendations which were stop on. Pancakes and chicken crapes.... May have spelled that wrong:). Anyway to the drinks.... Um yummy!!! All types of Mules and mimosas infused with anything you could want, the bloody Mary's are something you must see. Great place we will be back wish we had one in Austin.
(5)
Ichabod C.

Excellent dinner. We shared scallops and vegan sautÃ©, and it was a perfect shared combo for us. I got the Hibiscus martini and it was excellent.
(4)
Michael D.

This is a great place with the most unique and DELICIOUS food! I'm kind of a picky eater, but everything I have tried has been excellent. I just had the Turkey Burger, it was the tastiest burger I've ever had. The homemade chips are so good! They use the best quality ingredients, so everything tastes so fresh. This is a perfect place to take a date, or a business dinner. The food may take a little while to come out, but that is because they prepare each dish individually. It's in a great location too, right in the heart of the Gaslamp District. Give Cafe21 a try, and you will find yourself with a new favorite San Diego restaurant. P.S. Don't listen to any negative comments about this restaurant. The owners are very conscientious about their food and customer service. Some tourists may have been having a bad day.
(5)
Ryan D.

This place is excellent! I found this place while on business and ate their three times during my week. The breakfast and lunch options are fantastic and their lemonades are superb. I had the poached eggs for breakfast which ended up being my favorite meal from Cafe 21. Their menu is unique and offers a change to traditional breakfast and lunch options. Highly recommend if your a visitor like I was.
(5)
Sofia A.

15 minute wait on a Monday morning. They apparently didn't have enough tables, so my friend and I were seated with another party. For that, they gave us tiramisu pancakes on the house; they were too sweet for me. I ordered the "coffitea", which is exactly what it sounds like: coffee mixed with tea. It was good. My friend and I split a salmon omelette and stuffed strawberry bread. The omelette was good. The stuffed bread is a misnomer; there is no bread with strawberry stuffed into it... it's just strawberry filling put between 2 pieces of bread... that was disappointing. Service was slow because according to the waitress, they were understaffed. But we got a discount on our check.
(4)
Kristin A.

Been to both locations in University Heights and in Gaslamp; both were great experiences and neither had too long of a wait. Really nice food presentation as well as food quality! Their omelets come out in a little iron skillet (except not so little...it's actually sooo filling) and their Grilled Pear Salad tasted amazing. And I can't forget their Strawberry Basil Sangria...YUMM! Service at the Gaslamp location is great--one waiter was super energetic/chipper/gave good recommendations and another waitress was so sweet. She gave me free coffee! And it was good coffee. We were about to leave and I still had half a cup of coffee left as well as my sangria. I asked for a to-go cup for my coffee because I couldn't down both my coffee and sangria at the same time (probably not a good idea either), and instead of filling the cup with my leftover coffee, she made me a full fresh cup so that it would be hot, and she didn't charge me. Yaaay. Coming back!
(5)
Kelly R.

Yummy, yummy, yummy. I had a delicious shrimp and grits dish. So original in its flavors. I've heard the crepes are amazing, so we'll have to try that next time. The service wasn't amazing, but nothing seriously negative happened. Just a little slow on getting someone's attention. We definitely will be back.
(4)
Megan C.

This place is good and people know it- it can sometimes be hard to get in! I've tried to come to the other Cafe 21 before and the wait was too long, so I was happy to come for lunch! We sat at the bar and I had a mojito minus the simple syrup. It was great! They also use their own fresh mint, which I definitely appreciate. It was busy, so we had to wait awhile for our food. We shared the prosciutto omelet and the Monte Cristo sandwich. The Monte Cristo sandwich is really good with the jam (you can choose jam or hot sauce). The omelet is good, but I would advise anyone with food allergies to ask about food before ordering. I do not eat a lot of bread (was pushing it with the sandwich but sounded really good!) and the omelet was almost more like a quiche. Delicious none the less, but just be sure to ask about ingredients if that is a concern. Otherwise, super great atmosphere and cute decorations, great food, and all around a great place to have brunch/lunch!
(4)
Frank P.

Memorial Day was my first visit to the restaurant. All the menu items were appealing; I ordered a lamb burger with goat cheese. I was disappointed that the lamb burger appeared to be a frozen pattie and the goat cheese was shredded cheese added to the burger. I expected the lamb burger to be a bit meatier- like a beef burger, and the cheese be sliced goat cheese. Overall it was delicious and I will be back again in the future to try other items on the menu.
(4)
Karen H.

Cute brunch place and luckily we didn't have to wait, but when we left there was a huge line. The food is so yummy here! Strawberry Chocolate Pancakes-It was crispy, and fresh, and oh so yummy! Shrimp Corn cakes with Shrimp, sweet Corn, Potato, Mozzarella Cheese, with Cilantro Cream Sauce-had great flavor and texture. The corn just made it even better. Short Rib Cast Iron Omelet with egg white, Fig and Chai Tea Marinated Beef Short Rib, organic Bell Pepper, Caramelized Onions, Gorgonzola Cheese-this was on the heavier side, but still just as good. Loved all the dishes and 3 girls finished everything!
(4)
Martin V.

Had the PB&B French toast, and had the bread switched to egg vs the usual wheat after reading the recommendation from a Yelp review. Simply awesome. Friendly service and fast. Cappuccino was excellent. Sat on the outside patio and enjoyed the SD warm weather. Great start to my morning !
(5)
Simon A.

Okay off the bar, everybody complaining about time, it get's busy, yes, give them a break, they do what they can, if you know about how to run a good business, you got to make customers happy which means minor conversations, socialize etc. ANYWAYS! I came here, I am all about breakfast and organic food. Waited 30-minutes, I don't mind. I am a foodie and love quality food. Reviews were good and presentation of website, etc was up to my standards. BUSY, BUSY, High-Pace, High Energy Ambiance. Awesome, bring anybody here for any occasion. Came here with the lady. We ordered the...get ready..Im a beast... Scallop Omelet, amazing, exceptional, best omelet I have had, seryo. Blueberry rhubarb pancakes, exceptional, amazing, ah. Strawberry rhubarb pancakes, better than the blueberry in my opinion, sooo AMAZING! I am hooked. SO.. I ordered MORE! Strawberry Stuffed French Toast - ARE YA KIDDING ME, THIS WAS PHENOMENAL, AH! Everyone is like, "This guy got problems, he done order like 10 items" Ya, SO?! Hiccups; Server didn't give me avocados in my omelet, BUT he gave us a 20% discount on the omelet for the hiccup, nice guy. Ordered the berry mix sangria, eh, not my thing, it was rather bland and boring and watered down. BUT everything was AMAZING. I will drive to SD from OC just to feast there. OH YA, So When we got there, they were out of CREPES and FRENCH TOAST! That SUCKED! Then I heard him say they re-stocked to another table, so I got some. Next time I am getting an omelet, crepes, pancakes and french toast.
(5)
Vafa T.

Wonderfully delicious breakfast with a lot of fresh fruit, great location and good service.
(5)
Sarah P.

This restaurant came highly recommended for Sunday Brunch - but unfortunately we were not impressed. We (party of 2) waited 40 minutes to be seated after being told it was a 15-20 minute wait. We waited 10 minutes for our server and then ended up getting our food before we ever got our drinks. Food was not as good as expected. Fruit had crumbs on it and looked like it had been sitting under the warming lamp. Omelet had huge spoonfuls of goat cheese dropped on the top rather than mixed through. Toast was so hard you couldn't even rip it apart. We then waited another 10 minutes for our check and never did get the coffee we ordered to go. We finally just left in order to not get a parking ticket on top of our disappointing breakfast!
(2)
Sara R.

It took about 1 hour until our dishes were served. I had French toast which was strongly recommended by the server. It was too stiff and hard. I wouldn't go back there.
(2)
Queency M.

Food: Tiramisu Pancakes 4 stars Curry Chicken 4 stars Phenomenal. Tiramisu pancakes is very rich so pair this with a strong coffee. Great for sharing. Curry chicken tastes amazing but doesn't come with much so not that great to share.
(4)
Jennifer D.

SUPER FRESH!! Had the yellow tomato Bloody Mary and it was amazing, definitely bet I've ever had! The juice was fresh made this morning, herbs were growing out of their herb wall, and the grilled cheese was a homerun. Not what you would expect in a bloody, it was light, savory and fruity at the same time. I also got the salmon omelet which was the perfect balance of smoke, salt, savory and creamy from the avocado! Service was awesome!
(5)
diana r.

Amazing! The minute I heard they had many flavors of mimosas, I knew I was at the right place. I tried the watermelon mimosa, raspberry mimosa, blueberry, cucumber ginger pineapple one. Yes, a total of 4! And I wanted to try more. This amazing brunch place is located in the gaslamp in SD! Easy to find and fun place. They have a small patio in the front are of the restaurant. The menu has a variety of options. Everything for the most part is fresh and tasty! I had a green salad (the had yummy strawberries) and a sandwich and mimosas! Over all the service is great! The waiter was very very friendly and made some great recommendations. I saw several brunch parties, I would imagine that this place would be a great option for small gatherings.
(5)
James A.

My friends and I came here for brunch. We were excited to try it given the high reviews. It was busy and we had to wait a while which was expected, so not a big deal...I don't mind waiting for something good. Unfortunately the food was just flat out not very good. We got a variety of breakfast-y and lunch-type items and all of them were pretty cold. I am not a stickler for food being super hot when I get it but this was just too cold. My friend got pancakes and the butter wouldn't even melt on them (I kid you not) and it didn't melt after 5min either. The cheese in my crepes was not melted and hard. Ok so food was cold...who cares if it tastes good right? Well the taste was fine. Nothing special at all. I don't even think the food being hot would have set it apart. I really wanted to like it but honestly it wasn't good. I don't understand why and how it is reviewed so well. Must be damn tourists and not locals :/
(2)
Chris D.

Good food, good service, good environment. Had tiramisu pancakes. My SO had strawberry stuffed toast. S.C.R.U.M.P.T.I.O.U.S
(5)
Kristen A.

We have been here for brunch, lunch, and dinner. Multiple times. In fact, it's my favorite place to go for brunch downtown...who wants to wait an hour for pancakes? It's a farm-to-table concept at Cafe 21, so expect your food order to take 15-20 minutes longer than you would normally guess. All the food we've had here is good...I would especially recommend the fresh salads with strawberries, flatbreads, and prosciutto sandwich (house made bread). The flights of sangria seem like a good idea, but out of the six types displayed, typically only two of them are tasty, and the remaining four are weirdly over-rosemaried.
(5)
Pablo S.

Pretty packed on a Sunday morning but we were seated in 5 minutes. Friendly waitress. Was hard to decide on our brunch selection, since their menu is amazing. Flight of mimosas was pretty good, we shared. Favorites were original and raspberry. If you're going to get one unique flavor instead of a flight, go for one of those. Feta omelette and apple pancakes were amazing. I do have to deduct a point for cleanliness though, the table had a coffee spot and so did the chair. Finally, why only one paper napkin? Leave them on the table, or at least put two. Price was a bit up there, but what do you expect, this is the gas lamp quarter.
(4)
Stephanie M.

I loved this place from beginning to end! If you looking for a nice brunch, yummy mimosas and great service then this is the place. We were seated right away and we choose a seating area outside. Being right in the middle of downtown made for a good view. I love my mimosas and this place definitely has a great selection. I ordered the raspberry mimosa and my date had the pomegranate. Both were yummy and delish! Service was awesome. Our server Aaron was very friendly and happy. He recommended that I tried the Shrimp Corn. Omg! BEST decision ever. I ate everything on my plate plus some of my dates! HAHA! He ordered the salmon omelet. Which was also amazing! I would 110% go back again. Be prepared to spend some money but it is totally worth it! :)
(5)
M M.

I was drawn to this restaurant by how charming it looks on 5th ave, and had been wanting to go here for ages. I finally had the chance a week after they relocated to their current, larger space. Even though it was crowded, and they were new to the location, the staff was on point. I left really impressed by their team, and even more so by the food. I ordered the scallops with a light curry sauce which was just perfect for a weeknight dinner. For dessert I had the day's bread pudding which was filled with fresh berries and was possibly the best I'd ever had. I recently returned with high expectations from my last visit. I can't say that I was as satisfied with the brunch as the dinner. I had the omelette which turned out to be a frittata. While that may be a matter of preference, the frittata was overcooked (spongey) and the shrimp had passed from well-done to chewy by the time they arrived at my table (probably because the skillet remained hot to the touch and cooking my meal the entire time). Luckily, my boyfriend ordered their curried chicken eggs Benedict, so I was able to go halvesies on that. I was in no way disappointed with that dish and would happily order it again! The chicken as well as the vegetables were perfectly cooked and in that incredibly yummy light curry sauce. Knowing how attentive the staff appears to be here, I will definitely be back -- I'm sure they'll continue to improve and I'll steer clear from skillets!
(3)
Jv's M.

The food was delicious had breakfast here. I will be coming back to try their silver pancakes. They have variety of delicious fruit drinks in the morning and the service is very friendly and nice. Our server was very friendly and accommodating
(5)
Olivia M.

Great for brunch and for happy hour. Servers and management VERY accommodating. Every special request and seat movement we asked for they did without batting an eye.
(5)
Sarah H.

This place was awesome! We're San Diego locals, however we never go downtown. We checked out this place on a whim and we were pleasantly surprised! It was busy on. Sunday morning but they do their best to get everyone in, eating, and having a good time. The staff was great, very friendly and a bit quirky. The food was phenomenal! I had strawberry creeps and my boyfriend had the short-rib omelet. Both tasted great and the portion sizes were big enough to fill my boyfriends voracious appetite. In addition the Bloody Mary and POMosa was epic! Highly suggested. They get pretty busy on a weekend morning, but what place doesn't??
(5)
Brian A.

If you're looking for an exceptional Bloody Mary, this is the spot! Came here with my wife and we were very impressed with the atmosphere and patio. Nice staff and the food was tasty. We ordered the chicken skewers and the chicken curry and both were delicious.
(4)
Cory J.

My friends and I went yesterday, on a Saturday, at noon. We were a party of 5 and were seated in 25 minutes. I had the mango apricot red sangria and it's definitely worth a try. I wanted my lamb burger done medium and they did it well done. It's my fault for not specifying but it's their fault for not asking. Otherwise, the service was top notch and we were made to feel comfortable the entire time. It's not going to be my no. 1 brunch spot in San Diego but it'll definitely be a no. 2.
(4)
Annie V.

I have seen this Cafe 21 from my coffee shop across the street...always seems busy so we thought we'd try it out...omg the food is amazing. There are at least 10 more things I have to try on the menu...and the presentation perfect and beautiful...everything served on a wood block. The new location used to be Croce's downtown in Gaslamp on fifth and F...must try this lil gem of a place...oh and brunch served til 4pm
(5)
Jaymie H.

Cast Iron Omelets: Amazing. This place is perfect for brunch when you have a lot of time. It gets really busy, but service is great - my water cup was always being refilled - and the food is delicious. Prepare to spend some, but it is moderate pricing. I plan to go back for brunches in downtown. Went on a Sunday and it was pretty loud the whole time, but I was able to hear my friend and maintain conversation... so eh. Pretty great experience.
(5)
Zoe M.

Great location, nice choice of in out and booth seating. Menu was just right enough choice but not too OTT. I had the Monte Cristo SW I think it was- I have never seen so much meat and filling in a sandwich. Incredible! Chutney very tasty. Husbands pancakes were smaller than the giant American portions we had come to expect but we're a light relief and very tasty and certainly a good portion. I would def recommend this place, only complaint was my espresso was warm not piping hot.
(5)
Emily O.

Two reasons why there's a line outside: 1. Short staffed on service 2. Really popular place to eat Definitely a place to eat if you're in San Diego! Found my favorite brunch spot, ever. We sat the bar because there wasn't a wait versus waiting 30 minutes for a table. Shrimp corn cakes: it's their "eggs Benedict with a twist" = bomb!!!! Tiramisu pancakes: I got the short stack. If you want something sweet with a chocolate/espresso taste, this is recommended. Strawberry stuffed French toast: YUMMY! The assorted fruits tasted fresh and amazing. My boyfriend got the pineapple cucumber mimosa. We also ordered egg whites but they accidentally substituted it with the poached egg for the shrimp corn cake. The bartender fixed it right away and was very apologetic. The other bartender gave a complimentary strawberry mimosa. Excellent customer service. Positive attitude. Had that great energy vibe. Atmosphere: if you're sitting at the bar you'll see how the wine bottles are scattered on the wall in geometric looking shelving. I thought the plants at the bar was for decoration but they grow the fresh mint leaves for the drinks. Fell in love with this place, food and staff. Sit at the bar, you'll get better service with the staff!
(5)
Tyler B.

The food here is next to awful, over priced and poorly plated. I had the kebab plate ($29) ((which doesn't include peta or flatbread)) The beef was so tough and gamy, I initially thought it was just really bad lamb. The 3 different kinds of hummus were just tiny amounts "smeared" (or maybe "streaked" is a better word) across the plate. It must have been sitting for several minutes, because it had started to crust over. Not only was it extremely unpleasant to look at, there was no developed flavor profiles and added no enhancement to the meal whatsoever. The rice was cold. The chicken - overcooked and under seasoned. Despite the rest of the plate, the lamb sausage was actually quite good. So if you happen to go here, just get a plate of lamb sausage and you should be fine.
(2)
Tatiana T.

Out of all the places in the area, we decided to go to cafe 21 to begin our trip in San Diego. Definitely was a great place for brunch! I would start with one of their homemade teas, all delicious but my favorite was the Andrew Palmer! For lunch I had the pesto chicken sandwich. The sandwich was fresh, all ingredients were organic and may I add, a big sandwich! I got the side of the strawberry salad which was nice and refreshing. To end the meal we got the French toast which was lick your fingers, delicious. Nice ambience, very quick and efficient waiters and a great place to have a meal on a sunny day!
(5)
Angie P.

Love their breakfast and mushroom fries! And the mimosa flight.....YES!!
(4)
Aaron M.

Awesome food, excellent service! Worth the wait. Awesome ambiance, excellent fusion of turkish and american.
(5)
Tracy N.

This place was amazing. Customer Service (5/5): There is a wait here. We went on Saturday and Sunday morning for brunch. We waited 20 mins and then 45 mins. There are two hosts that take your name. They both are super funny, great personalities and loud. They crack jokes constantly so waiting wasn't bad. The wait is outside on the sidewalk and there are no seats. Can I just say their service was great both days by everyone we came in contact with. Everyone was just so personable. From servers to bartenders to hosts to bar backs to everyone. Having so much contact with so many employees I never imagined everyone would have amazing service. We came into contact with at least 5 people per visit and they were all great. Food: So we went twice in a weekend. Let me break it down by dish. 1. Shrimp/sweet corn cakes (5/5): I have no complaints about this dish. The shrimp is cooked to perfection. It walks that line between raw and cooked making it moist with the perfect texture. The cilantro sauce... I asked for extra. It looked too good and it was great. I definitely would ask for extra sauce when you order this. The dish was moist the flavors were perfect. I don't know what they could do to make this dish better... just more sauce...! 2. Curry cakes (3/5): It was good but the sauce tasted watery. I would not recommend this dish. The chicken however was great. If you love that middle eastern curry flavor (as opposed to Vietnamese or southeast asian flavor) this is the dish for you. The meat is extremely flavorful. The only reason this dish gets a low rating is because the sauce really tasted watery. In thinking about it the sauce should not taste so curryish because the meat does that. However I think they need to change that sauce up because it plays no role in the dish except for plating. 3. The cabbage rolls (5/5): It looks like steamed egg rolls. This is March dish and simply amazing. Just amazing. It comes with a roasted tomato sauce that is drizzled on top. I asked for more on the side. Worth it. It looks like steamed cabbage stuffed with meat. I think pork and beef. Very moist and the meat was perfectly seasoned. -The next day- 4. The smoked salmon sandwich (4/5): This tasted how it expected it would. I would eat it again, it was good but it didnt blow me away. We order these potato chips with it. The potato chips were great, they were probably 5x the size of a regular chip. 5. The shrimp pesto sandwich (5/5): I couldn't deal, this thing was perfect. Again there is nothing they could do to make it any better than it is. I definitely could recommend this. There are enough shrimp. They are pretty stuffed sandwiches. The pesto always was the right amount, sometimes restaurants overwhelm you with too much pesto. Not the case here at all. I ordered the potato cake on the side. It was too salty but that is just a side. 6. (3/5) Don't know this name of this dish. It was on the March menu. It was a a stuffed pita with roasted vegetables and you can make it veggie, turkey, chicken or smoked salmon. I do not recommend this. It mean it was yummy but you've had this before. It kind of tasted like a pizza I had a while back. Plus, the other dishes are too good to not try. Do not sit at the bar unless you want to end up ordering drinks!! They were soooo pretty. The bloody marys were intense. 1. Cucumber-ginger-pinapple mojito (5/5): so refreshing. the flavors are perfect. 2. Traditional Sangria (5/5): as good as spain. 3. Raspberry mojito (4/5): great too, only the raspberry juice/pulp needs to be mixed better. It kind of settles at the bottom. Even though two of my dishes were given average ratings, the overall here is a 5/5. How can it not be? The experience makes it that, the people and just environment. This place is a must try.
(5)
Andrea Jane L.

Where, oh where to begin! First, the menu is quite frankly the most eclectic one I've ever seen. Every item is so unique and interesting. My favorite would have to be the house made yogurt parfait. It's layer's of Greek yogurt, purÃ©ed jam and fresh fruit. But wait, that's not all! Mixed in with this awesomeness are chia seeds. They'll make any omelette with egg whites. I had the egg white veggie wrap (gotta keep it healthy even on vacation). Andy had the the Salmon Diamonds omelet and strawberry crapes, which were flavorful, creamy and not overfilled. The infused teas were perfection in a mug. Everything is served on silver platters. We came here three times. Twice for breakfast and on our last night in SD for cocktails. We sat at the bar and struck up a conversation with the bar manager, Tony, who gave us the 411 on all their infused drinks and spirits. We even had the pleasure to try the some new concoctions that hadn't even been introduced yet. Just like this place, he was very interesting, friendly and humorous to boot. Definitely a favorite and without a doubt, we will be back.
(5)
Monika H.

My boyfriend and I were excited for San Diego brunch during our trip there; we found Cafe 21 on yelp through all the amazing reviews but we were sadly disappointed. Service: (2/5) 1. The whole restaurant had a strange fishy/musty smell - we asked to sit outside in the fresh air 2. We waited at least five minutes to be seated, and this was a Wednesday brunch so it was not too crowded 3. Our waitress was not friendly or attentive 4. They were sold out of the shrimp& corn cake Food: (3/5) 1. I ordered the yellow curry cakes as the shrimp were not available. The cakes were okay, but were a little too dry and crumbly. 2. My boyfriend ordered the chicken pesto sandwich - he thought it was perfect! The potato pancake that came on the side however, was not what we expected. Tasted like bland, flattened mashed potatoes. Overall, I really wanted to like this place but it was quite average for us. The food looked beautiful but wasn't amazing, and the service could definitely be improved.
(2)
Denny V.

NO AC!! Run out of "specials" at 11am Never coming back!! Not worth the wait and or the dam heat inside the restaurant... The waiters are all sweaty that's gross! Can you imagine the cooks sweating on your food?! GROSS!!!
(1)
Alfred W.

We ate breakfast here twice. The first time, Chloe had the well publicized tiramisu pancakes and loved them. I had the turkey crepes, and they were awesome. The next time, Chloe had the berry stuffed French toast and loved it. I had the lamb sausage omelet and it was solid. The service was friendly and fast. The only thing I wished for was French press coffee.
(5)
Alexandra F.

What an amazing brunch cafe!! Amazinggggg bloody Mary's-and I am a tough judge on those! Coffee was even fantastic. Service was great and everyone was super nice and attentive. They are busy there though, but it was soooo worth it!
(5)
Kimia M.

Everything about this place is PERFECT. It is unique, the food is great, ambience is warm, and drinks are strong. I especially love that jalapeno tequila! Tried the lamb and the short rib and was blown away by both. This restaurant is the next big thing in the gaslamp! You have got to try it!
(5)
Josie L.

This place is amazing and definitely worth the (long) wait! Fresh ingredients, delicious food, fun atmosphere...Cafe 21 has it all.
(5)
Peter L.

Amazing diamond spinach omelette and shrimp corn cakes.
(4)
Matt M.

Fantastic food!! Drinks that soothe or fire up! Bloody Mary with shrimp on a stick? Yes. Credulous monte Cristos. Meat and fish cooked supremely. Love this place. Fresh delicious food with friendly and attentive staff. Been here a few times and always so happy to have eaten here!
(5)
Leonard L.

CafÃ© 21 SD: Downtown 5th Ave 8pm Monday 19 November 2012 Two Stars CafÃ© 21 is known for its brunch and their Brunch is what they do well. Dinner was extremely lack luster. It took 10 minutes to get our first round of cocktails. It took about 10 minutes to get a couple glasses of wine. Our Food took 40 minutes for two salads and one flatbread pizza. Interestingly, the flatbread came out 5 minutes before the salads, which ruled out our idea that the food would come out together. The waiter was nice and apologetic for the wait. I mean I should not be able to have two drinks before my food. The food quality was good but missed the mark on some things. For example, the Grilled Pears on my salad needed some type of glaze to bring out the sweetness of fruit.
(2)
Evelyn V.

I was in San Diego a couple of weeks ago and I wanted to try something hearty for breakfast. I got a mushroom and spinach omelette which was perfection. It had like 3 eggs so I could not finish it. My hubby ordered the strawberry crepes. Once I had enough egg and decided to try his crepes and we traded plates. I fell in love with those strawberry crepes. Not too sweet, topped with lots and lots of berries. I really want to go back to eat those again. I had a regular coffee which was pretty good. Hubby had a fresh apple juice. OMG! that was delicious! They have plenty of juices and cocktails to choose from. They also have a variety of yummy organic dishes for lunch. I will definitely go back when I go to SD.
(4)
Camilo M.

Pleasantly surprised, the food is quite original and tasty. The portions were generous and the service excellent. We had the meat board and spaghetti squash plus appetizers. Only recommendation is to print new menus and protect them better, since the ones that we got were showing some heavy use.
(4)
Glenn K.

Started at bar for a Bloody Mary since there was a bit of a wait for a table along the street. Well only 10 minutes, but I like bloody Mary's and this one was great! Bar staff was great and knowledgable of the menu and area attractions. Wait staff was very very friendly. I had the salmon omelet by recommendation from the bartender. It was amazing! I normally taste my omelets and then ask for hot sauce or salsa. Not this time as I did not want to spoil the flavor as it was the best omelet or dish I have savored in a long time. As for the atmosphere, San Diego Gaslamp area, need I say more!
(5)
Lola B.

Hub and I split the turkey burger. We both enjoyed it. It was fresh and light. Also had the mango green tea which was fresh, but nothing special.
(4)
Suzanne A.

Here for the happy hour appetizers and wow!!! So amazing. Fried avocado, fondue, fried portobello, finishing off with bread pudding. Ah-ma-zing!!! Sangria's are too die for!
(5)
David H.

First, the food was fantastic. My wife and I came both days we stayed in San Diego. Best breakfast and brunch I've ever had. They have variety of food and drinks on the menu. Some original. If you go, ask for Josh. Young guy who knows his stuff and provides great service. I would give it five stars if service was consistent. The bar tender couldn't offer good suggestions on drinks for brunch but gave me an awkward look. Nothing personal but if she didn't understand my question, she should ask.
(4)
Nin H.

The food and the classic Bloody Mary are really good. We had omelette which is recommendable. But bring a lot of time as you have to wait almost an hour to get your food.
(4)
Araceli R.

Wow. My friends and I went to Gaslamp to celebrate a birthday & Sunday we were looking for a good place to get brunch so we coincidently passed by cafe 21 & noticed the big line outside...so we decided to see what the fuss was all about... 1. Wait was minimal (considering the amount of people waiting, we waited like 30 min tops) 2. I noticed their little sign outside said "tiramisu pancakes" so I was sold from the get go. 3. I would DEFINITELY recommend this place to everyone! What we ordered: Tangerine mimosa (delish) Tiramisu pancakes (HEAVEN, HEAVEN, HEAVEN) P.L.T (MUST try) Chicken curry eggs Benedict (friend said they were awesome) So yeah, it's kinda pricey but they use excellent ingredients...you get what u pay for....let's just say I would be a regular if it wasn't almost 2 hours away from me lol
(4)
Erica P.

We went here for brunch on a very busy Saturday morning with a party of 7 and were seated within a few minutes, which was great. Water was brought to our table almost immediately and our waitress greeted us shortly after. Drink options were great and were all delicious! In our group, we tried the Bloody Mary, which had a huge piece of prosciutto as a garnish; the mimosa sampler, which had 6 different flavors and were all delicious; and the Irish Coffees, which were some of the best I ever had. Food options were awesome, though I did have to request a Daily Specials menu to find what I spotted another guest eating on our way in (which I knew instantly that I wanted). It took a very long time for our food to come out, but everything was amazing! They have great vegetarian and gluten-free options, as well as great options for meat-lovers. There were some really interesting combinations as well as some very traditional brunch options. Overall, great experience and will definitely come back the next time I'm in town. Food was delicious, just slow to come out (hence the 4 stars). Cocktails were excellent as well. The only regret we have is that we didn't try the sangria wall. Looked incredible!
(4)
Natasha E.

The food was delicious but the wait was quite long. I had the brisket omelet and it was delicious. My sister had the lavash and the pesto that came with it was soo good
(4)
Krispy K.

I only went here for happy hour but loved the options. I had avocado fries and potato pancake with pork which were both superb.
(5)
Kyla S.

Probably had the best eggs benedict today at Cafe 21 today. Got the shrimp corn benny and would highly recommend it. I didn't order a drink, but if u want something get the mimosa flight or the prawn bloody. I sat at the bar and they were being ordered left and right.
(5)
Alyssa K.

I was visiting San Diego and came here for breakfast on a Saturday morning. The wait wasn't too long and the decor is adorable in here. If you like trying different flavors, I would highly suggest the mimosa flight! The food was amazing, our server was so friendly, and the atmosphere was perfect for brunch. If you are in the Gaslamp District, come here for breakfast!
(5)
Morgan B.

I had the strawberry crepes for breakfast. Best crepes of my life. Seriously thought I'd died and gone to heaven, had a foodgasm, the taste of true bliss, etc, etc. Take your pick! I've got serious appetite in the morning and found myself slowing down just to savor each magnificent bite. Not to mention the ambiance of the place, the decor, the quality product. A little pricey, but unlimited refills on coffee and cute waiters;) Highly recommended.
(5)
Lila Z.

We had a huge group for a birthday party and everyone had different dietary restrictions (vegetarian, vegan, gluten free, healthy). This was the only place we could find that could accommodate everyone. The fried avocado and flat breads were my favorite, but everything was really good!
(4)
Sarah D.

Another SD restaurant that is phenomenal! Fontina Fondue? Yes please. Duck wings? Hells yes! Sangria flights including a tarragon citrus flavor? DEAD!! So glad I was able to have a meal here before leaving San Diego. Such a treat and a great atmosphere. Loved the rustic decor. They were able to sit a large group of us and our waiter was amazing. Will def be back my next trip out there.
(5)
Jaclyn I.

Try one of their mixed drinks - I got the Arnold Palmer, and it comes with a huge glass of lemonade with a tea infuser where you can set the amount of tea you want in your drinks! Eggplant fries melted in your mouth. My friend had the steak which he claimed was good, and my Cristo crepe was different and yummy. A small area for outdoor seating because, let's be honest, a "cold" day in this neck of the woods is 60 degrees and windy.
(4)
Jillian A.

This place was pretty awesome. We beat the crowds and had a great breakfast before driving back to Los Angeles. The food was filing and savory. I had the tiramisu pancakes---which were suuuper sweet--and my boyfriend had this delicious egg dish. I'm not sure what it was but I'll post photos of both. Only issue is is that the waiter suggested I get oj with my food so I did. It was your typical carton oj for 6ish$. Only compliant. The staff was very friendly too.
(4)
Nijole T.

I am so glad we stumbled in here. Literally, it was Saturday, around 11pm and the sidewalks and bars were packed, I was tired of getting pushed and ducked into here and is looked inviting and was not bursting full of people. WHile the specials of the day sounded lovely (lamb lollypops and delicious looking flatbreads anyone?) we wanted to sit and have a drink. They had about 8 sangrias on display and offer a flight to sample a few or all. We went with the mango mint mojito and some kind of berry drink, which I loved. The mango tasted a bit off, but I bet my tastebuds were just used to the huge mango margarita I had at Dick's a few doors down. This here is quality people! The dÃ©cor is simple, but very inviting, rustic and modern. The menu, local, fresh and everything passing by looked and smelled amazing! They bring you a large glass bottle of water and two nice glasses to start, its a place you can hang and gab in peace, we felt great just hanging out here. I'm glad we found Cafe21, amidst all the bustle of the Gaslamp Quarter, this is a feel good restaurant to eat or have a drink.
(4)
Vivian P.

The waiters/waitresses need to be more attentive. We were seated without menus and took five minutes to flag them down. We also had to grab their attention for everything: ordering, condiments, utensils, the check, etc. I noticed the other tables were also annoyed with their lack of attentiveness. Like sheeesh. Get it together guys. (The only thing keeping them from 5 stars.) Corn shrimp benedicts: Not your avg bfast dish. Beautiful presentation and it tasted even better. Their green sauce is amazeballs!!! I was weary that it wasn't filling but I was full after the first one. Short rib omelette: The meat was delicious. Our waiter told us they marinate it for about 4 hrs. No wonder! I just wished there was a better meat to egg ratio. Mango tango green tea: So refreshing!!! You can get it iced or hot. They bring it out to you with the cool tea pot infuser you just put on top of your cup. It's enough for two big large cups. Defs worth it.
(4)
Calvin B.

Seasonal Chopped Salad is sooooo delicious, best salad I've ever had.
(5)
Justine R.

Super nice servers and the host that has short dark hair is fantastic. They really go out of their way to make people feel welcome and accommodate vegetarians...I had the mixed green skillet. It was very very good. I liked the sour creme and jam that came with it. The mimosas are good also and they come in a lot of varied types. The bill can add up if you are drinking since they are made with fresh juice.
(4)
Mainou L.

I was here for dinner and got the flat bread and flat iron steak salad. You can choose 2 flavors from the 3 options available of what you would like to get your flat bread stuffed with and I got a beef for one and spinach and goat cheese for another. This comes with a small side salad. The flat breads were bursting with flavors when I bit into them..they were warm and savory. I wish it could have come with three flatbreads instead! I love the concept of these stuffed flatbreads! The side salad was simple yet very fresh. The flat iron steak salad was absolutely amazing. The steak had been well marinated and cooked to medium-rare perfection. The salad was again very fresh and clean. I also really liked the chipotle dressing it came with. I would definitely return for brunch and another dinner here!
(5)
Erin E.

My husband and I had been looking forward to eating at Cafe 21 for a while. The wait has been generally very long so that kept us from coming. Yesterday, we decided to bring a group of friends who had out of town guests- total of 7. We showed up about 10 minutes before our friends in order to get the name on the list. First issue we came across was there is no hostess station - you just have to stand at the door/entry way looking confused until someone comes up to you and asks the number in your party. Once we were seated, it was a good 15 minutes until we were asked if we wanted water and drinks and 15 minutes after that until we got them. We waited another 20 minutes before we were asked our order and didn't get our food for at least 30-40 minutes. We arrived at 11:20 to put our names in and didn't leave until 1:30- all on account of the extremely slow service. The food was not bad and the mimosas were fine, albeit over priced. I just cannot recommend this place based on the subpar service and mediocre food, especial when downtown San Diego has so many exceptional brunch spots with bottomless mimosa offerings. We will not be returning here, despite it's cool atmosphere.
(3)
Arlen M.

The food was ok. Our waitress barely acknowledged us. Not a great experience, probably wont be back any time soon:(
(2)
Jason R.

Brunch. Great crepes and pancakes. Limited options for coffee drinks for some reason (i.e. no steamer). More upscale setting, but liked the food and options a bit less than cafe 222.
(4)
L C.

I came here because I was told that the Bloody Marys were amazing. Very true. Cafe 21 makes their own BM mix, and they are indeed out of this world. My second one was even better since I never remember to ask for the first one to be made extra spicy. I did not intend to order food, but am so glad that I did. I ordered the Shrimp and Corn cakes which is Cafe 21's version of a benedict. The "cakes" are little creamy, toasty mashed potato cakes with the freshest sweet corn bound together with mozzarella. This is topped by yummy, buttery, perfectly cooked shrimp and a poached egg, all swimming in a little pool of Cilantro cream sauce. The menu here is not super extensive, but what they do, they do very well. Everything is house made, and the ingredients are flawless. I will be here again and again on subsequent visits to San Diego and I look forward to eating my way through the menu.
(5)
Emad A.

i love this place its different and they have a great food love it
(5)
Tiffany F.

Ate here bcuz my friend wanted to. I did like the appearance of the restaurant. On looks alone I would eat there again. I had the shrimp corn cakes. Their take on eggs benedict. It probably would have been good if it was hot. It was just warm. Egg was over cooked. Didn't want to send it back bcuz we already walked blocks trying to decide what to eat. Will I try it again? Doubtful Three stars bcuz the other food ppl were eating looked good
(3)
Angie L.

Cute little restaurant situated in downtown San Diego! Boyfriend took me here for brunch on my birthday and I was really pleased with the entire experience! Came here on a Saturday afternoon just around lunch and it was pretty packed -- with that being said, we were still seated pretty fast out on their lovely outdoor patio. The restaurant itself looked nice, but I have to say the ambiance out on the patio was really something else for the weather outside. We ordered the tiramisu pancakes and a lamb sandwich with a side of mixed greens and their peach apricot tea and despite being super busy, we got our food in no time at all. Servers were super attentive and really friendly, which was a definite plus in my book. Tiramisu Pancakes - Comes with five short stack pancakes, topped copiously with all the great tiramisu flavors! Not overwhelmingly sweet or anything, but just the perfect mix of cocoa and mascarpone whip -- yum! Definitely would recommend for anyone with a sweet tooth. It's definitely as delicious as it sounds! Rosemary Roasted Lamb Sandwich - I've never tried lamb before, so this was actually a new experience! My verdict? Also fantastic! The lamb was savory and flavorful and bread was great. Perfect savory dish to offset the sweetness of the pancakes. Mixed greens were fresh! Presentation of the dishes are also noteworthy. Every dish they delivered looked so appetizing! Can't wait to be back to try more things off of their menu! And for the atmosphere and the quality of food they've got here, I'd say they were really fairly priced. Overall really great experience here. Kind of as a side note, they give you a rack for any purses or belongings you want to set down -- I didn't know how much I appreciated that until they offered it!
(5)
Chris L.

The host, Louis, was very nice and gracious. He was attentive and efficient. I had the Cristo Crepe (chicken and cheese) and the crepe was perfectly thin and crispy on the edges. They provided two sweet sauces which was a good mix of sweet and savory. The pear salad was HUGE and I only finished half but it was perfectly dressed and the pears were pretty good. The place is really close to the Westfield lot. The interior is eclectic but familiar (think Pier 1) enough not to be strange. They had some Turkish decor and their Sangria was displayed along the front walking area. I love the little individual purse/scarf stand that they bring to your table! I have never seen that before and think all restaurants should have them (think wine cooler but a stand that holds your stuff).
(5)
Jeff H.

I brought a couple friends from out of town here. We were all extremely hungover from the night before, so the mimosas were a delicious pick me up/slow wean off alcohol. It's a great brunch place with a much shorter wait than Bailiwick's next door, only downside is no bottomless mimosas. The decoration and seating layout makes the place much more spacious than it appears to be. The servers are extremely attentive and jubilant. Food is amazing, I had the salmon diamond omelet and it was top notch! Highly recommend it.
(4)
Diane L.

Very trendy/cute spot to eat. I've had brunch once here and the line is usually out the door (and for good reason). Their food is delicious and their presentation is really creative. The most recent time friends and I stopped by here we sat in the patio. The ambience was really great; it was dinner time on a Sunday evening so downtown was kind of winding down in general. We got to enjoy the crowd-y feel of gaslamp without having to yell over other peoples convos. Their dinner menu is legit too; girlfriend and I shared some sort of pesto/artichoke flatbread which was super good and their avocado and eggplant fries. The fries were definitely interesting and came with a variety of sauces that were really good too! The bf got a NY steak which he really enjoyed, and our other friend got pork chops which looked amazing and he enjoyed as well! Cafe 21 has never failed to deliver: amazing food, ambience, and great service.
(5)
U E.

This place is fabulous! Owners are very generous and staff are very friendly. They recently moved to a bigger space very close to their old location and the taste and the friendliness has not changed a dime. Every time I come to San Diego, I make sure I get at least one breakfast here!! All my friends love it too. Keep up the great work.
(5)
Reza B.

Best brunch ever! Delicious authentic Azeri food created by an Azeri chef is served in the most exquisite way. Strongly recommend this place and compliments to the chef , owners and staff . I really enjoyed my food , thank you ...
(5)
Sheenae H.

I've only been for brunch. Sangria flights and mimosa flights are a treat, and they're so pretty to look at too. The mimosa flight I ordered last time with a friend came with six glasses, and they did not skimp on the champagne. Awesome! bloody mary cocktails are tasty as well and are outrageously constructed. Food is a bit of a mixed bag. Salmon diamonds and stuffed toasts were delicious, but the omelettes were a little on the dry side. Maybe they kept cooking in those cast iron pans. Service from the waitresses have always been the right mix of friendly, professional, and prompt whenever I've been. I was definitely not fond of the host, who clearly thought he really super awesome. Too friendly. Too loud. Too much, too early in the morning. I stood as far away from him as I could while I was waiting for the table. Oh, I almost forgot! I went during my birthday weekend, and they gave me a free dessert. The waiters sang an ear-splitting operatic happy birthday song and scared the bejeezus out of me. The cake they gave me was a crÃ¨me brÃ»lÃ©e cheesecake, and it was DEELICIOUS. Seriously. So good. The next time I go, I'm ordering a bloody mary, the salmon diamonds, that decadent crÃ¨me brÃ»lÃ©e cheesecake, and a cucumber ginger mimosa.
(4)
Patricia D.

This place doesn't serve bacon, wheat toast, or decaf as a choice for a traditional American breakfast. However Cafe 21 gets away with it; and thank you for taking us out of our comfort zone. If you like meat and eggs, I recommend the cast iron omelet: Short Rib -$13.00. The ribs (no bone) are soft and well seasoned -towards the salty side if you will. They add scramble eggs and Gorgonzola cheese for a great combination! We also, have tried the Salmon Diamonds, $13.00. Classic Pancakes $9.00 Strawberry Stuffed Toast $9.00 In general, the food is very good. They don't serve decaf but the good flavor of the regular coffee makes up for the lack of choices. The place's decor is very cool, with a mixture of glass accessories, clean, modern, with some touches of rustic items. Sometimes the staff can be a little distracted and forget some items but in general the customer service is very good. Since the place is fairly new, it is a good choice if you're bored of overcrowded and popular places such the Hash House and Snooze.
(4)
Johanna G.

Great atmosphere, great service, attention to detail! I had their fresh squeezed juice of the day and short rib omelette with a potato pancake. Excellent food and fun place to eat!
(5)
Jennifer D.

I came here with a group of girls and Cafe21 was very accommodating! You can even make reservations which is unbelievable when it comes to brunch. We ordered two salads to share which were the seasonal fresh chopped salad with many pickled vegetables and the grilled pear salad with popcorn on top. As my main course, I ordered the shrimp cast iron omelet with a beet and cabbage soup on the side. It was good! I would recommend this brunch spot and they had so many drinks to choose from including a mimosas sampler. They also have a huge selection of sangria right by the entrance. Overall, great brunch spot and huge portions! No one finished their entree.
(4)
Greg Z.

We had looked forward to coming here but would say it was one of our poorest meals we had in San Diego. The menu itself was not very compelling, the drinks were not well made and the food was poorly prepared. I was surprised and disappointed. Worse, it was pricey relative to the lack of quality. Walk 100 feet in any direction and choose somewhere else
(2)
Rachelle H.

With all the choices in downtown Cafe 21 quickly became our favorite. After much debating this was our first stop. Had the Classic Bloody Mary and a Sangria flight. The drinks tasted as good as they looked. The food was organic fresh from the farm. Can't remember the details due to the stupendous bloody but the beet cured salmon was to die for. The server was friendly and energetic with a plethora of recommendations. We ended up starting the next morning here with another Bloody Mary garnished with a grilled cheese sandwich, a mimosa flight, and a breakfast platter large enough for two to share. Try this place out. You will not disappointed. My only complaint was the coffee. They serve nespresso and for a place with cafe in their name was disappointing. For all you coffee connoisseurs get your espresso down the street, but stop here for food and drinks!!
(5)
Fabian M.

So goooood! I got the shrimp omelet and I can simply say it was perfection, I was expecting 2-3 small shrimp in it like you usually get at other restaurants but I can happily say this was not the case for Cafe 21, I loved every bit of this meal! It had spinach/tomato and a few other goodies in it. They bring it to you sizzling hot so please be careful! My girlfriend got the strawberry stuffed French toast and it was absolutely Devine, we ordered the mimosa flight and our waiter was very patient with explaining what each flavor was and his opinion on each one! Another friend of mine ordered the chicken crepes and I personally am not a fan of crepes but these were great! I definitely will come here again on my next stay.
(5)
M D.

Skillet omelets !!! Just as good as they come !
(5)
Heather C.

Best Bloody Mary I've ever had and it is clearly a meal by itself! The short rib omelet was outstanding, but there was no way I could finish it after eating the grilled cheese that came as a garnish on my heirloom tomato Bloody Mary. So glad we stopped in, best brunch I've ever had! The service was great as well, just an overall fantastic experience!
(5)
Teresa N.

We had an hour to kill before a 6pm show at Civic Theater. Stumbled upon this restaurant with a big sign saying DAILY HAPPY HOUR from 3pm to 6pm, why not! The ambiance was really cool, but the first thing that caught my eye was the colorful beverage dispensers by the wall. The hostess said they were homemade flavored Sangria! Wooooo I wanna try. We ordered: Lamb Lula $5 - it was very flavorful, I like the strong mutton flavor, the tomato based sauce also went very well with it CBC Wit Beer $3 - booze Blueberry Flavored Sangria $4.50 - that was BOMB BOMB! It's had real fruity blueberry flavor and it complimented the drink really well. I saw on the menu they also do sangria flights, I will definitely come back and try them all.
(4)
Rachel C.

I'd give 3.5 stars if that was an option. I loved the decor (at the new, larger location) and the fresh air coming in from the wide-open doors. I got the sangria flights, which were excellent, and shared the mixed fries (eggplant, mushroom, avocado and more) -- delicious! The stuffed chicken entree was good, but the short ribs got mixed reviews--one person was happy with it, the other wasn't. One person got the peach tea, which came with a mason jar filled to the brim with ice and a mini pitcher of piping hot, fresh-brewed tea. Very fun presentation but not enough to get the tea pleasantly cold. Needed even more ice! I wish the service had been better -- it was sluggish. The place seemed understaffed for its size, leading me to think they hadn't adjusted to the size of the crowds at the new, larger location. It took 45 minutes to get our food, the waiter took longer than expected to bring the things we ordered -- drinks, apps, etc. -- and the staff kept letting our used dishes pile up. Overall, I enjoyed Cafe 21 but wasn't impressed.
(3)
Donna N.

Went to eat brunch and my whole experience was just ok. It was my first time here, and unfortunately nothing really amazed me. I had the braised short ribs omelette with a potato pancake, but it lacked flavor. My friends and I ordered a flight of mimosas, the flavors were: Strawberry, raspberry, blueberry, blackberry, pear, and orange-the idea was great but the execution was not. Two good things were: 1.) (Although this may sound bad) I found a piece of hair then told the waiter and the time it took to redo my order was instant they also added fresh fruit as an apology. 2.) The coffee was strong. However, I didn't like the way the waiter insisted for us to see a manager making the hair-gate situation worse than it should and the manager never came to our table to check in with us as he/she should since the waiter insisted a manager had to be made aware of. Overall, I don't get the hype, the vibe is young so it may work for the younger crowd. It's just not for me.
(3)
Valerie J.

I had requested to come here for brunch weeks in advance before our family San Diego day trip. Alas, brunch did not happen :( Thankfully we were still able to make it for dinner. While at Balboa Park, we successfully made a reservation for 5 at 6:30pm when it was 4:30pm :) I suppose it's not that busy on a Sunday night. Peter & I were a bit worried that this place would not handle toddlers very well during dinner time, but it was no problemo. We waltzed in and were seated immediately. Our server was awesome! Recommended the mango malbec basil sangria pitcher and it was delightful...& strong. My brother in law was getting a little woozy. Our food was great! Peter & his bro had the turkey burger--huge & nommy! I got the quail salad. It was tasty...though I don't think it was a quail. Looked more like a squab to me. Also, two tiny birds came whole on my salad. I'm just commenting that I would've preferred it the bird would've been shredded since it was a salad #justsayin. I didn't mind eating the whole bird though. Mama Ji had the flatbread which came with a side salad. I didn't try it, but the cheese looked nice & gooey! She's a picky eater and she enjoyed it. Woot woot! Had the creme brulee cheesecake for dessert. Deeeelish. I would mos def come back. BUT I REALLY WANT TO BRUNCH HERE!!!!!!!!!
(4)
Katherine M.

3.5 I've held off reviewing Cafe 21 for a while, because I have been hoping service would wow me enough to give them the review they deserve. No matter what, I still recommend this place to everyone because the food, drinks, and decor are amazing (especially breakfast). In the four times I have been here I have only had good service once, her name was Victoria or Veronica I believe, and she was very sweet and attentive. Every other time I have been the service has been awful. That being said, their tiramisu pancakes are some of the best pancakes I've ever had. Their regular ones are amazing as well, though last time they arrived to the table cold. Their benedicts and stuffed french toast are also outstanding. Drinks are insanely impressive- they put an entire grilled cheese and prawn in 2 of the bloody mary options. Mimosa flights are a must, sangria flight was ok. Decor is fresh and cute, they also bring purse racks to your tables to keep them off the ground/out of the way which is a nice touch. People have complained about slow drink times, their bar is not extremely large which I know hinders their production time. Also, I just appreciate the crazy concoctions they are making. My last visit I came during a slow time around 2:30pm. It took forever for a server to greet us, a while for the first drink to appear, then no sign of our server after he dropped the food. Eventually a manger came and assisted us and he was great. Overall, just hope you get lucky with service when you show up, but the food and drinks will not disappoint.
(3)
Philip C.

Ordered the strawberry fields black tea and short rib omelette. the short rib tasted good, but i felt i didn't mesh well with the omelette. the combination felt forced and more of a "hey let's randomly put these two together" idea. I guess in theory it sounded good, but it wasn't executed well, and I thought the overall taste was dull. my friend ordered the steak omelette, and got 3 pieces of steak. glad i didn't order that. service was slow, and one busboy told us there were free refills on fresh-squeezed juice, which turned out to be a lie. music was good though; close your eyes and you'll think you're in a day club. but i'd rather go to a club than this place.
(3)
Grace S.

The brunch here is delicious. I had the salmon diamond and pancakes rhubarb. Great combination -- the saltiness of the salmon diamond perfectly balanced with the berry taste of the rhubarb pancakes. But the food is not what makes Cafe 21 stand out. The service/staff is. From our host, to our server, to other servers who randomly stopped by our table to hobnob with us, everyone was a character. Friendly, quirky, funny. Impossible to not like them. Unfortunately, the quality of the service didn't match the friendliness of the service. In our party of four, one of the girls who had ordered a hot coffee ended up getting an iced coffee while a girl who had ordered an iced tea ended up getting hot tea. The error was remedied, but my friend had to really keep on our waiter's back to make sure it was PROPERLY remedied. Our waiter also forgot sauce one of the girls asked for, and had to be reminded. And there was a time or two when our waiter seemed to disappear. Anyway, Cafe 21 still gets 4 stars in my book. I'd definitely recommend this place for a yummy and otherwise-memorable brunch.
(4)
Caitlin M.

Love this place. Their turkey burger is fantastic and their Bloody Marys are meals in a glass. Highly recommend a Yellow or Green Bloody Mary here. Staff is very kind and considerate. Only drawback is they close too early on the weeknights. Full review at outforbloodies.com .
(5)
Maria O.

So we have been passing this cafe by and saw how crowded it was and caught some delicious smells so we decided to check it and walked in. The troubles began when the host asked if we had a reservation and said they are fully booked when there were half of the tables empty and available. Okay we thought. Than, after ordering 2 entrees, 1 soup of the day and little appetizer we have spent the whole HOUR waiting for anything. Seriously? Soup of the day, for an HOUR! And than, after a couple of complaints, really pissed off waiter, a nice manager we finally got the soup of the day. COLD. SOUP of the DAY COLD. Really? Is it such a complicated dish that after being cooked for 60 MINs is cold?? I don't want to say anything bad about this place and we all know that these situation could happen once in a while, but I was really disappointed with the quality of food and unfriendly waiter, taking out order. Thanks to a super nice manager that tried to improve the situation, providing complimentary drinks in the form of juices and speeding up all the process. Soo, the quality of the other dishes( apart from soup of the day and crepe we also have ordered 2 chicken breasts, that we have waited for 60 mins as well) was really good, well cooked, tender and actually hot. I would put 5 stars for these dishes. 5 stars for manager and his eagerness to help, very poor( 1 star) for soup of the day and rude waiter. Effort matters. 3 in general.
(3)
Minxi R.

I recently visited the new downtown location for weekday brunch with a bunch of friends for a birthday celebration, and it was a really fantastic meal. We tried out the mimosa flight (6 mimosas in tasting portions): blueberry, strawberry, raspberry, cucumber, orange, and apple. My favorite was the cucumber, which was light and refreshing. Several people ordered omelettes, which were served in mini cast-iron skillets and had really adorable presentation. I shared a lamb sausage omelette, which was pretty tasty, although the lamb was slightly dry. I also shared an order of tiramisu pancakes, which were amazing - the pancakes were nice and fluffy, and with the mascarpone cream and coffee syrup, it actually tasted a lot like tiramisu. I highly recommend these pancakes! I had an overall great experience at Cafe 21 - I've been to the University Heights location before for brunch and dinner and enjoyed both experiences. The downtown restaurant has a larger and brighter space, and definitely worth a visit. For full review, please read my blog post: jinxieats.com/2014/06/caâ€¦
(4)
Kaitlyn D.

I came here to celebrate my 21st birthday with two friends, around 11 on a Sunday. We expected the wait to be at least 30-45 minutes, and after being told it would be 22 minutes (yes 22 exactly) we waited about five minutes to be seated. The waitress was very friendly and chatted with us, but was good at maintaing all her tables and she made sure that everything was taken care of quickly. The wait for the food was a little long, but so worth it. The vibe was really awesome, the music was great and even some of the servers and busboys were singing along- it was a good atmosphere. I got a Strawberry Mimosa which was delicious and was more champagne than strawberry, and tiramisu pancakes that were super sweet. I would recommend getting the short stack because could be too sweet for even us with a huge sweet tooth. I will definitely be back here again!
(5)
Jenne B.

After wandering the Gaslamp a bit, I settled on CafÃ© 21. I was greeted instantly by a lovely host - would have preferred him as my server. She arrived after a few minutes, and not having seen the list of sangrias, I asked her about each. She hadn't tasted most, which was disappointing. If you're going to be known for them enough to have a flight on the menu, a tasting for the staff would be helpful. I asked most about the classic, as I like to take the pulse of your sangria worthiness based on the basics. I asked how it was prepared - did they let the fruit sit in the wine, or was it prepared upon order. She seemed less confident, but said the wine is infused for 1-2 days. When it was delivered, with one sad little strawberry on the rim, I was unconvinced. It was passable, but I think they show more love to the Bloody Marys. I ordered the grilled pear salad with chicken, which was good, and then didn't see my server again for over 45 minutes. Plenty of servers around, just not mine. I might try it again, I might not. People watching was good, food was good. Sangria OK. And service was off.
(3)
Diego D.

Came here for Brunch with my girlfriend because she saw the reviews on Yelp and it looked like they had good food. Food was good but nothing that you can get somewhere else, and overpriced . Now, talking about their service, it was one of the worst I ever experienced. The server clearly stopped taking care of us once she realized we were going to have one mimosa only. She stop coming to our table, food arrived and we didn't have silverware, napkins, nor sugar or milk for our coffee, and she completely disappeared for almost 5 minutes. Once she showed up, I asked her for ketchup and hot sauce and she gave me a weird look as if something was wrong with me. Ketchup was delivered to the table a few minutes later by a bus boy, hot sauce never arrived to the table. First and last time I ever come to this place, way overprice with a terrible costumer service .
(1)
Kim T.

I usually hate going to places on main streets, but this place was worth it! Crazy fun waiters, that will do a one man birthday song for you ;). Get the tiramisu pancakes if you have a sweet tooth. You won't be able to get through a whole order though, it will be a lot! Got the mimosa flight, which kept me very warm. The scramble was very good. If I come back anytime soon, I'm definitely coming for round two!
(5)
Annie N.

My boyfriend and I are both are vegetarian and try to eat vegan as much as possible, so finding a good restaurant can sometimes be a little tricky. We were walking through the Gaslamp district and Cafe 21 caught my eye. We were able to eat most of the menu items, which was great. I immediately ordered a blackberry lemonade, the seasonal fries - which are a must, grilled pear salad, and the vegan saute. We were in absolute heaven with this meal. It was the perfect, filling dinner (with leftovers). Everything tasted very fresh. The service left much to be desired. I found myself trying to get our server's attention at several points just for a water refill or the check. ALL of our food came at once, within a minute. We were sitting at a two-top and there was no room left on the table top after the appetizer, salad, and entree were all brought out at once. As someone who has served in many restaurants, how this mishap occurred confuses me because this is why there is a POS system that times appetizers and entrees to be ready at different times. By the time we got to the rest of our entree and fries, they were cold since everything had been out for so long. -1 Star. All things considered, this may be our new favorite food in San Diego and we look forward to another visit during our next California trip.
(4)
Vicky O.

Very good for breakfast. Large portions and friendly service. Keep the coffee coming and helpful with suggestions on menu. Hope to go back for dinner.
(5)
Sanaa O.

I have to say my best dining experience ever! And I dine quiet often. Amazing farm to table menu. Herb cocktails. Incredible service. Fantastic ambiance! Tony the bartender was so incredible and creative. I shared what Flavors and liquor I like and he created his own concoction with such passion and pride! I will definitely make a point to visit this place every time I'm here...oh and I live in LA...the so called place of top restaurant. This by far topped it for me!
(5)
Kirk N.

Very interesting and fresh food. True to tapas approach. Check out the sangria bar.
(4)
Beatrice W.

Thank you Yelp for directing me to this place! I dropped in to grab lunch to go and decided on the lamb sandwich. It was very basic - just lamb, tomato, and swiss, but the lamb was very tender and the bread was good, flavorful and freshly toasted. Simplicity can be good if every element is prepared well. For my side, I went for the grilled proscuitto and they did not skimp on the portion size! The proscuitto was crispened to the consistency of a potato chip, which was an interesting idea. But man, was it salty! It makes sense actually - you grill out the little bit of moisture left in the meat, so the saltiness gets even more concentrated into each bite. Probably not the best preparation of proscuitto but it sure was fun to try once! I did have to wait 20-25 min for my order though, which was nerve wracking since I had a flight to catch. Luckily it all worked out. I won't dock points for the wait though - I'd much rather have a well put together order than a something that is just carelessly thrown together. Keep up the high standards, Cafe 21!
(4)
Jenn N.

Let me take you down to cafÃ© 21, cause I'm going to strawberry fields. If you could taste a peaceful stroll through fresh strawberry fields on a sunny day, the mixed green strawberry salad at CafÃ© 21 is what it would taste like. The strawberries are always perfectly ripe and the raspberry vinaigrette plays off of them beautifully. The fresh greens supply the tart crunch, which is the yin to the yang with the sweet toppings. They always give me a rack to hang my bag on. I really appreciate not having to set it down on the ground or try to find a spot for it on the seat. They serve water in unique bottles that are chilled. Little touches like this are what always make me feel welcome here. I have ordered various sandwiches here and have been very happy with all of them. Most recently, I chose the grilled eggplant. It's served on hearty rustic Italian bread that is grilled in butter. They stack it high with fresh spinach, meaty mushrooms, perfectly cooked eggplant, hearty heirloom tomato, and creamy mozzarella cheese. Always know sometimes it's me but you know when it's a dream. They serve their fresh leaf tea via ingenuitea glassware. You patiently wait for it to steep and then get to feel the exhiloration as it cascades down the ice cubes into your glass. It's like lifting off into your own little lunch adventure. I think I know I mean a "Yes" but it's all wrong. That is I think I disagree. CafÃ© 21 simply does matter to me. p.s. The couple sitting next to me ordered the sangria sampler and it looked amazing.
(5)
Rebecca S.

Came again for the music! 'Twice as Nice' is here again! A hidden treasure in San Diego's music world. Robbie Benson is on vocals.
(5)
Chris S.

Food was delicious. Had the shrimp cake Benedict and it was super flavorful and a unique take on a traditional Benedict. I also had a bite of the tiramisu pancake which was good but didn't blow me away. Lastly, the cocktails were great and creative but on the pricy side.
(4)
Merry L.

We were invited back by one of the owners after a negative experience and our opinion of Cafe 21 was turned around. They took great care of us. Props to our server Jacob whose recommendations were so helpful and warm personality was a joy. The salmon omelette was outstanding, as was my husbands monte Cristo . They really strive to put top quality into their dishes with homemade purÃ©es and sauces. Definitely recommend eating here if you are in the Gaslamp area of downtown.
(5)
Amanda C.

I LOVE THIS PLACE. I literally go once a month, no joke, because they have specials that change every month. Jason and Ben are probably the best hosts and servers I have ever met, and I always feel welcome and entertained when I see them. Thank you so much for changing my life, it's the best brunch I've ever had, coming from someone who's tried a plethora of brunch establishments. P.S. They also accommodated my dog Simba, which I am so appreciative of. We always get seated outside when he's with us, and they bring him a bowl of water as well. Great service, great food. What more can you ask for?!
(5)
Lillia M.

Service 5 stars Food 5 Stars Went for happy hour INCREDIBLE selection of appetizers- price on food and drinks excellent! I found a place I will go to quite often!!
(5)
Ryan M.

Such a great brunch spot in the Gaslamp. The short rib omelet, served in a skillet, is as good as you would think. Saw plenty of more dishes on the menu that I'd love to try during future visits - a lot of creativity/thought put into the food. Great bloody mary and mimosa list. And we were given great service by (I believe) Benjamin.
(5)
Kurrent C.

Turkey burger is amazing. They got the bomb tea...yes go and enjoy anything on the menu...
(5)
Christy R.

A little loud, but scrumptious food! The guava mojito rocks! My scallops were amazing! I will be back!
(4)
Erika J.

So I came to this cafÃ© based on the great reviews from past yelpers. The tiramsu pancakes looked heavenly in the pictures on yelp so I made a choice to come here knowing it was comic con weekend. First, I stepped in the restaurant dazed and confused because there was no hostess anywhere so I just wandered inside and stood there for a mere 5 minutes and waited to see if any one would ask about a table. No one did. So I had to basically approach a waiter asking about the hostess and a table. Lo and behold a hostess popped up next to me just staring at me so I asked about a table for 2. She politely showed me to a table, sat me down, gave me a menu. Then a waitress came by and poured some water asking if I'm waiting for anyone and I told her my boyfriend is coming but I'd like to start off with Tiramsu pancakes and a tall glass of milk. When I said milk she gave me a weird funny look. Yes, I'm ordering milk at a place that sells alcohol...get over it. The ambience of the restaurant is trendy, very "hipster". Overall I liked the place. So the waiter showed up with my tall glass of milk and then walked away. It was lukewarm. Ummmm okaaay!? Well this is weird. Is it warm because you a have a cow in the back? I doubt that. 10 minutes later my tiramsu pancakes are delivered to the table. Great presentation. Taste wise? It was overly bitter and in my opinion it didn't really had the taste of tiramsu just the elements of black coffee. Anyways, I nibbled on them while waiting for my boyfriend to show up. Got sick and tired of the bitter taste so I decided to order something else. I waited for 30 minutes since the waiter would pass by multiple times and ignore my table. I finally got her attention because I stared at her hardcore and asked if I can order something else. I then ordered the Monte Cristo with the raspberry jam. I waited patiently another 30 minutes for the arrival of my plate. This is when my boyfriend showed up and took a seat, and was handed over a menu. I received the Monte Cristo. It LOOKED delicious. I was really hungry since I haven't eaten for 8 hours and only had a protein shake. One bite, it was okay. There was an overwhelming amount of turkey which looked freshly carved but a lot of turkey. Secondly, where was the raspberry jam?! Seriously couldn't taste it because there was only a sliver of jam on the bread. THIS IS WHERE IT GETS INTERESTING LADIES AND GENTS. SECOND BITE, THERE IS A BONE IN MY MOUTH. I take it out and its big and long. EW. THE FUCK?! I put it on the side of the plate and my boyfriend notices it and he's like WHAT IS THAT? Of course he gets mad seeing that the price of the plate was about $14 and there's a bone in my sandwich. He then kept asking me to call a server and complain but I'm too nice and told him that the turkey is freshly carved so maybe that's why. THIRD BITE: HOLY FUCK SHITS. I JUST TOOK A MOUTHFUL OF BONE SHARDS. Disgusted I spit it out on a napkin and push the plate away. My boyfriend tries to alert a waitress politely calling out "Miss" but she ignored us. MIND YOU, IT WASN'T BUSY. A guy waiter passes by and my bf calls out "SIR" In such a cold manner because he was pissed at being ignored. This waiter then asks about the problem and we explain about all the bones. He took the plate away and offered something free off the menu so I chose a scallop skillet omelet. I receive the scallop skillet. It looked appealing. First bite was fluffy. But when you dig your spoon in the dish itself all you get is OIL. Literally a pool of oil at the bottom of the skillet and another pool of oil in the middle of the egg dish. It was an oily dish, so nasty. There was fruits on the side of the dish so I tried some fruits.... How the fuck are you going to make everything look so nice but the food tastes like shit. The fruits had a nice assortment but they were all hard and sour. OMG WHY?! You're supposed to check if the fruits are ripe or not before serving it to the customer! UGH Lost my appetite, and didn't finish the dish. I was so disappointed because by the reviews on Yelp it looked so yummy. My boyfriend and I were both annoyed at this point so he tried to get one of the waiters to give him the bill. It literally took forever to flag one of them down. 40 minutes tops till a waiter popped by our side and handed him the bill. The waiter told us the manager apologies for the meal we had and then left. I was curious what they charged us on the bill and I found out they still charged us for the Monte Cristo. How are you going to charge someone who only took 2 bites of that sandwich and spat out bones? Shouldn't you have took that off the bill too? That really irked me. I told my boyfriend that maybe we should tell a waitress to take that off too but he was overly annoyed and just wanted to get out already because he knew that it would take another 30-45 minutes to flag down another waiter. We paid and left. This restaurant has left a foul taste in my mouth since then.
(1)
Amanda V.

Out first time trying this place. It was recommend by a fried so we stopped in. We made it for happy hour. We got the sangria flight and it was worth it. I believe it was $11 for 6 tasters, normal price is $21 I think. If it wasn't happy hour I think it's a bit over priced. We tried the avocado fries and I think lamb meatballs, both were really good. The second time we went we ordered the fries again and this was during comicon, I don't know if it was because it was busy but the serving size was noticeably smaller than the first time we ordered it. Again, It was happy hour both times we went. I also made it clear to the waitress that we were there for happy hour and so I didn't wait for everyone to get to the table before ordering. I ordered the mojito flight not knowing it wasn't on the happy hour menu and the waitress said nothing to inform me that i wouldn't be getting happy hour prices on the flight. So, our bill was higher than we calculated. I know it's a courtesy but I guess I expect that if I'm there for happy hour, please inform me that I'm not ordering a happy hour item. Although I wasn't happy about that the food was still good, drinks were good. Happy hour prices are good. Try it!
(4)
Arren G.

So bummed on this review. I've been waiting to try this place forever. Especially for their highly recommended bloody Mary's.... I went yesterday only to be let down ... Their classic bloody was good but nothing special it came with a huge piece of dried prociutto that was yummy. I got the ol' yella Bloody Mary . I read lots of veggies and a grilled cheese and I was excited . Well the drink came it looked great but it was not good the grilled cheese was cold and stale . The veggies seemed like they had been sitting out and the drink itself was so hard to put Down , I squeeze 15 lemon wedges into it to make it drinkable. :( I hate writing bad reviews but for a 15 flipping dollar Bloody Mary I wish somebody would have given me a heads up . I give it three stars because the omlet my friend got was great and the service was great as well . The bloody Mary's not so much I would try the others but the first one was so bad I don't really wanna waist all that money on another bad experience. Would definitely go back for the food and service though!
(3)
Dena U.

I wish I could give double the amount of stars for service and food at Cafe21. Came here on a Thursday morning w. my two girls & were seated on the patio after a brief wait. Anthony was our waiter & was EXTREMELY helpful & informative. I ordered the tiramisu pancakes after struggling w. the 'sweet or savory' conundrum & my kids ordered the side salad, scrambled eggs & toast. Unfortunately my daughter was expecting a different type of salad (she's 6 but usually likes salad) Anthony was just awesome at getting her something else even though I insisted she could share her sister's breakfast and mine. My pancakes were absolutely out of his world. Very decadent - they were completely smothered in the marscapone sauce - but the short-stack was the perfect size so it wasn't totally overwhelming. I also ended up eating the salad which was sweet & dressed just right. I just had to swipe a taste of my daughter's replacement potato pancake and it was SO good! Anthony recommended the rose, cucumber raspberry mimosa and it was the perfect blend. My only regret is that I didn't get here sooner in the week to discover how amazing it was so I could visit again before my trip was over - either the shrimp corn cakes or one of the skillets. Until next time Cafe21! & again I cannot say enough about how helpful Anthony was!
(5)
George P.

Dropped by here a few days ago for a birthday celebration, and while the food was good (ended up trying out the sangria flight plus a chopped salad with added shrimp), there were very long gaps between getting service. It didn't seem like a busy afternoon, but perhaps they were short staffed? It took a long time to get our orders placed, and then once again to get refills on drinks, to get our appetizers, food, and then the bill (ended up here for 3 hours). Our waitress was very nice however, and the food pretty good. However, I wouldn't recommend adding shrimp ($7 for seven pieces of shrimp?), and overall, the price was a bit higher than I expected for the amount of food we got. I'm glad I tried the place out, and it has a nice atmosphere, but I don't think I'll be back as there are other similar spots that I've been to that are a bit lower on cost while still maintaining the quicker service and quality of food.
(2)
Ally P.

While visiting San Diego, I caught up with a friend here. I have the say the service was really great, especially since we took forever to order because we were busy chatting and catching up. She had a couple of the mango mojitos, which were delicious, and I had a few beers. For my entree, I ordered the chai braised short ribs with sweet potatoes. Though I wasn't much of a fan of the flavors because I found them to be very sweet, I was actually quite impress with the dish. It was cooked perfectly, and the sweetness wasn't overwhelming. Overall, I'd say that quality of the food was fantastic, and if I am ever in town again, I'll definitely come here again!
(4)
Ali M.

Amazing bfst with 5 star service. Also, you have to have the Bloody Mary if you are a BM fan, just spicy enough to give it a nice kick w dry prosciutto. So so good. We sat at the bar, so if you don't want to do the long wait, the bar is a great option. Wendy the bartender makes a mean Bloody Mary and can make all of the recommendations on what to eat. We had the lamb omelette along with the salmon omelette and the blueberry pancakes. Lastly cafe 21 is extremely flexible on changing ingredients on your food. So don't be afraid to experiment...... Enjoy......
(5)
Olivia B.

This place is amazing! The food and drinks are excellent and the service is phenomenal. Best good I've had since being in the States.
(5)
Trupti K.

Service great, food - great, ambience - wonderful! My only complaint - I wish my food had come out sooner. Must have - the Azerbaijani platter - delicious is an understatement! The cous cous - melts in your mouth! The lamb - flavorful and juicy! Chicken was slightly dry as compared to the lamb but still tasted good. Avocado fries - interesting! The stuffed paninis - were ok - the potato stuffed panini was good. The drinks are quite unique and tasty... Overall a great experience. Tip - make reservations, and parking is tough to find - but you could always park at Horton Plaza and validate it later!
(4)
Christina A.

Had a fabulous birthday lunch here! They have all these loose leaf teas you can get iced or hot which were really good. I had the PLAT sandwich with a poached egg which was really delicious. Another favorite of our group was the Salmon Omelette! Our server Jacob was AMAZING and made the whole meal super enjoyable for all of us. We will be back!
(5)
Ian J.

Great food, Ambiance and reasonably priced. I had a surprise birthday brunch and the wait staff made sure we got seated in the upstairs area for our large party which, was also hidden from the front door to make the surprise that much more fun. I had one of the cast iron omelets which was delicious. The organic coffees, teas and food ingredients all excellent. Will definitely go back again when I'm in town.
(5)
Angie C.

Best find on Fifth Ave!! Fantastic, fresh food. Inventive cocktails and pure craft juices. Excellent service. Ask Val to make you a mimosa...you will not be disappointed!!!
(5)
Lauren C.

This place obviously has it's great reputation as an amazing breakfast/brunch place, but i unfortunately had the dinner experience... After checking online to view the breakfast/brunch menu and comparing it to the dinner, I can see that breakfast has wayyy more options. To start, it was a Saturday night and I was feeling something light. My BF and I came in without reservations and without even checking the menu. All I knew was that this place was highly recommended on Yelp (I didn't know it was mostly for breakfast..) We easily got a table, maybe 45 min before a huge rush came.. but we sat right byt he door which kinda sucked. it was good seeing all of the different sangrias lined up against the wall! We ordered a pork belly salad and some weird wrapped flatbread thing. It was like a pizone? It's not on their online menu, and it was a new item when we went. There was a spinach kind and a shortrib kind.. Didn't like either.. The salad was okay.. I have nothing to report, other than the fact that the food tasted mediocre. it wasn't because I don't like the "Turkish" twist to the foods, my boyfriend loves Middle Eastern food--hell my BF is Lebanese--but it was not working for us..Plus everything was pretty expensive... Great service, though! Won't be back for dinner though... i recommend you don't either
(3)
Sylvie K.

After months of sister suggesting I try out cafe 21, I finally had a chance to stop by for brunch. My friend and I were promptly seated (although we had time to order some bloody Mary's first) by the large windows. The high ceilings a loft layout was great! So was the shared platter which had, steak, eggs, cheese, break, and an assortment of perfectly cooked veggies. We also tried the champagne flight which is 6 shots of different flavored mimosas. Probably the best mimosas I've ever had!
(5)
Jennifer A.

Had an exceptional meal here with my family while on holiday in San Diego. Of the restaurants we visited during our trip, Cafe 21 was possibly the best. We found the meal to be creative, delicious, and accompanied by excellent service. The hostess immediately greeted us when we walked in, showed us to our table, and was very helpful with the menu. She was very friendly and good at light conversation. Our server was attentive, personable, and always there when needed. We started with the fig and prosciutto flatbread. It was lovely. You really can't go wrong with drink selections at this restaurant. They have a menu of creative cocktails, a sangria bar, wine, and locally sourced beer. The server we had was able to make great recommendations based on our preferences. For our mains, my dining companions and I each ate a different dish and remarked on the incredible taste and beautiful presentation of our meals. I had the curried scallops which were phenomenal. The scallops were expertly seared and served in a yellow curry sauce which perfectly complemented the sweetness of the scallop. The curry was not spicy or hot, just delicious. Overall the dish offered unique flavor combinations that were perfectly layered and nuanced. I could eat it every night, it was that good. I will definitely go back the next time I visit San Diego.
(5)
Marlena C.

The food is not good...got the prawn star the shrimp is not fresh and Bloody Mary is flavorless. Got the farmer's board, a mess with bad ingredients of food...the need pudding French toast is not good too....I gave 2 stars for the effort and the creativity of the menu. The ingredients and execution is horrible. Too bad, since the menu looked so exciting, disappointed.
(2)
Alice T.

Cafe 21 is the cutest place, but it feels like it's having an identity crisis. The history on the menu talks about how the Middle Eastern owner would love to expand her roots more by having live music and Turkish coffee. And the inside of the restaurant definitely looks Moroccan with the beautiful windows and decor. However, the menu is completely eclectic... salmon omelets, tiramisa pancakes, chicken pesto sandwiches, sangria. What? I think the only Middle Eastern thing is having lamb and tea on the menu. With that said, I really liked my entree. I had the short rib omelette. The short rib was tender and tasty, but I didn't taste any of the Chai tea and fig marinade. The omelette came out in a cast iron skillet, and it was a perfect portion. I got the omelette with a side of the mixed greens salad. The salad was surprisingly good, because of the raspberry dressing and the strawberries. The other entrees the table ordered were good, but not quite what was expected. The tiramisu pancakes were heavily mocha-espresso flavored and looked different from the pictures. This one tasted more like chocolate pancakes. (Side note: it would be cool if they had baklava pancakes to match the supposed theme of the restaurant.) The drunken cherry cast iron pancake was tasty, but too soft. It was more like a thick, eggy crepe than a pancake. And all of the cherries were on one side of the pancake. A big con... the restaurant stank! We sat inside, and it was like there was no ventilation. It was hot and musty, and it smelled like an urinal. Not sure what was going on there. And the staff was friendly but incredibly unorganized. We were introduced to multiple servers, and three different people asked if I wanted a to-go box, but only one actually came back with a box. Nonetheless, so many options on the menu look good, especially the infused sangrias and happy hour offerings.
(4)
Kathy L.

Came here on a Saturday morning with a 20 min wait. You can't miss the darn place because there will be a ton of people standing outside waiting for a table. The sassy host taking names would scream: ______(insert your name) for two!!! 3-4 times at the top of his lungs and if no one answered he'll say something like well then get off muh list! He'll also do a random roll call just to insure quality wait time, which was awesome. The staff was singing to the customers, employees were laughing left and right, 80s music blasting, all n all, you can just tell its an awesome place to work at. Okkkayyy, enough of that. Lets talk food! Had the flight of mimosas. It was SO popular the bartender kept on saying he ran out of glasses. We waited so long for it, it came out AFTER our food but to be honest, 5/8 tasted the same to me...mehhh skip. I had my eye on the bloody mary with a fat piece of bacon and of course the olives. Next time, my friend, next time... My significant other had the lamb omelette w/ fruit, WHICH WAS FABULOUS!! and I had the short rib ome w/ a potato cake which compared to the lamb, was sooo bland :( He actually had to put more quarters in the meter and a part of me wanted to switch dishes with him soooo baaaadddd BUT like a good girl, I didn't :( Next time, that lamb omelette will be ALLLLLLLL mineee! MWUAHAHHAHA ;P
(5)
Ruby C.

Had to come back to this place and get there spectacular Shrimp Corn cakes. Their version of eggs benedict, which I'm not even into. But these shrimp corn cakes are served with cilantro cream sauce, shrimp and corn hash, topped with two perfectly poached eggs. Some of the most fantastic brunch I've had outside of the Bay Area. A must try!!!
(5)
Karen T.

Came for happy hour. We enjoyed the Sangria flight ($10.50) which comes with 6 small glasses of ice and a small canister of ice. The flavors were: -Pear&fig -Strawberry kamquat -Melon citrus -Blueberry pomegranate -Original -Pineapple orange Our favorites were the original and the pineapple orange, which was the sweetest. The worst one was melon citrus because it was really bitter. We also tried some of the happy hour snacks: eggplant fries ($4), chicken curry cake ($5), spinach crepe ($4), chicken cristo crepe ($5). Everything was very good but they are very small. I really liked the eggplant fries. Others enjoyed the chicken curry cake, which was very similar to crab cakes. Parking options: 1) Street parking if you can find it 2) Horton plaza 3 hours free with validation. Enter on 4th and F. 3) park-it-on-market is $1 per hour up to $15. Overall, come for the sangria. You can probably get better food somewhere else in the Gaslamp district.
(4)
Miss M.

Okay this place can be summed up in 3 words: WORTH THE WAIT! We came for breakfast on a Friday during a recent getaway to San Diego. This place was PACKED. After about 10 minutes we were seated and our waiter was with us right away to offer drinks. Let me say what an amazing selection! Finally our food came and I have officially died. Stuffed french toast? ARE YOU JOKING! Heaven is breakfast and I have tasted it. Despite being crazy busy we were well taken of, well fed, and not for too much money. The cherry on top is how cute the decor in this place is! Will be back for sure
(4)
Samone H.

Place was busy, but we were seated in the back fairly quickly. Everyone around us had a bunch of drinks, but we didn't try any. They had delicious berry-infused water which was refreshing. Service was okay and food was meh. We had a steak with goat cheese skillet on a Saturday afternoon. Both the steak and the egg were overcooked. The taramisu pancakes were really that taramisu-y. It was sweet and cakey, and pancakey with the coffee essence, but nothing to "WOOHHH" about. I wouldn't go back.
(2)
Kyle B.

Phenomenal food, even better service. Jacob was fantastic. Glad to have a new memory as 2 day old newlyweds. Thank you so much Jacob.
(5)
Elizabeth N.

I love their service! And the fact that their food is organic and their eggs are from cage-free chickens. I went on a Saturday around 1. It was crowded but we only had to wait about 5-10 minutes for a seat. Let's move on to the food. We order a standard stack of buttermilk pancakes (3) and THEY ARE SO GOOD. I don't know why but they were so delicious. They look like normal pancakes but they taste so fresh, creamy, and warm. They aren't spongy and rubbery like Pancake House. I order an egg skillet with all egg whites. Really good but I did get tired of it quickly. Maybe it's because it was all egg whites and its missing the fatty flavor of the egg yolk. Their fruit is super fresh and good (sweetest pineapple ever). My boyfriend got eggs and a side of jerky. The "jerky" aka bacon was huge. Holy. He said it was really good but I'm not really a fan of pork so I didn't try it. Overall, it was good. Love the decor, it's modern and cozy. ** Just a note: bring some change for street parking. Each server carries their own bank so they will not have any change.
(4)
Victor C.

That crispy pork belly. My god. So good. Who knew my random craving would turn out to be such a good meal. While the service was a little slow on this day, the food was delicious. Seriously. I'd knock this up to 5 stars if it didn't take 25 minutes for the food to come out. Also, the bathrooms are coed even though I swear I saw an M on one door and W on the other.
(4)
Kim W.

Delicious food. Amazing mimosa flight. Love this place and would go again and again if I lived closer.
(5)
Don R.

We found this restaurant on Yelp and it had good reviews and the menu on their website looked very enticing, so we thought we'd give it a shot on Saturday evening after seeing Wicked. Our 5:30 reservations were perfect and our table was waiting for us when we arrived (with some irritated comments by the hostess that we 5 minutes early). The restaurant has a nice decor with lots of oversized mason jars filled with various fruits and veggies adorning the walls. The chairs were hard wooden ones that quickly grew uncomfortable, but we were looking forward to experiencing the menu we had viewed online. Imagine our surprise when we found a very different menu in front of us. When I asked our waitress about that, she told me that the online menu was for a different location. If you go to their website and click on "Menu", it clearly says "Gaslamp Quarter Menu" which is where we were. The online menu has entree prices between $18-$25 and some very good looking meals. The menu at the restaurant has prices from $25-$35 per and a much smaller and very different selection of meals, not many of them nearly as interesting. Our waitress was friendly at first, but quickly grew annoyed at any changes we asked for. I was told that the kitchen "is not big on substitutions", and apparently she was right, because everything we asked for was ignored. Things like "no sides please" and sub veggies for coleslaw. She also had to be asked at least twice for things like napkins, sugar for tea, salt. They advertise a wide selection of Sangria so we ordered a flight. The waitress came back and told us that we couldn't have the flight because they were out of two sangria's. She did then bring us samples of the other kinds so that we could choose a goblet of the one we liked, so that was nice. We enjoyed our friends company for around an hour after we had ordered (the restaurant was busy but still had a few empty tables) when the food finally came out. My ribeye was room temp, thinly cut and had gristle in it. It was like the cheap cuts from the supermarket. It had very good flavor for a cold, bad cut, but I was being charged $34 for it. There were 9 of us there, and only 1 meal came out hot, and only that meal was enjoyed. Everyone else left feeling let down. We ordered both deserts, the gluten free chocolate cake and the creme brulee cheesecake. One of our friends joked about how long it was taking and asked if they had to bake the cake first. Joke was on him, because they actually did. It came out hot and had very good flavor for a gluten free cake. The creme brulee was nice but very small. At least we found another gaslamp restaurant to never go back to.
(2)
S C.

Just passed by this place and decided to try it out.. It was deelish! The pasta dish was so tasty, all the veggies tasted so fresh, the pasta had a good flavor to it and the shrimp was great too! The hubby got a chicken pesto sandwich, I took a bite, it tasted real good... You can taste the pesto in it.. Mmmmm Glad we stopped in to try the food.. We weren't disappointed..
(5)
Sara T.

The food it amazing... You may need to wait a bit but the experience is worth the wait.
(5)
Lyndsay H.

I came here with a group of 5 people right around 10am on a Sunday, they told us it was a 20min wait which I thought was fair for a Sunday. We spent the wait time looking over a menu and it was still super hard to decide when we sat down, everything looked fabulous! We got the pear, pomegranate, blackberry, and grapefruit mimosas and everyone was impressed with the fresh juice and champagne ratio. The time from ordering to food was good and everything was hot and delicious! My feta artichoke and spinach omelet was wonderful and everyone else was happy with theirs as well...I even had the last couple of bites of my friends banana and walnut French toast that she couldn't finish she would have liked more banana, but I only had two bites so I couldn't get a feel for the ratio. Overall great experience, I will be back and I will be trying the sangria!
(5)
Dee P.

Like what I always say on my reviews, Im all about customer service! By the time we walked in until we were seated, the employees are awesome! The food was good but not WOW. A fun spot. I'll come back to try the other stuff on the menu.
(4)
Christine O.

Best pancakes I have ever had. Yesterday's dinner was sumptuous too! I got the spaghetti squash dish with garlic prawns you can just taste the freshness and quality of the ingredients they use!
(5)
Lisi M.

This farm-to-table cafe offers a cool ambiance and flavorful food. Had the Monte Cristo with the potato pancake side and it was nothing short of delicious. Small restaurant, but was able to accommodate a large group and serve the food virtually at the same time. Also, had a excellent assortment of teas. :)
(4)
Longwen C.

Sumptuous breakfast! Me and my lady were delighted! Excellent: Farmer's Board Good: Fruit Juice Average: Turkey Crepe We came here for brunch while visiting San Diego. The server highly recommended the Farmer's Board to us and it was marvelous! A huge plate full of goodies that included cheese, vegetables, jam, and of course my favorite filet mignon. I must say, I love eating juicy steak for breakfast. Unfortunately, the turkey crepe she ordered was quite mediocre. The portions were huge but the turkey was tough and bland. It's a shame too because the pineapples that came with the crepe were large and delicious. Despite the turkey, we still enjoyed it a lot. Word of advice, order something they recommend next time! Heard the pancakes were good!
(4)
Sdp S.

Incredible sangrias and amazing food! So glad we came here on our visit from the East Coast. Would highly recommend going here between meals!
(5)
Carol L.

Service is great. Cocktails are unique and wonderful!!! Cannot say enough good things about the happy hour. Food is delicious! You can't go wrong here. We ordered the lamb burger (incredible), fondue (finger licking good), and the jalapeÃ±o pear marg (unparalleled)
(5)
Tara G.

Two trips to San Diego and two experiences at Cafe 21 have left me enamored with this place. The first time I visited was in their old location, which to be honest I preferred over the new one - it was just so cozy! But that time I only got to experience the bar (the infused mimosas and sangrias, to be exact), though the drinks and the service were impeccable. On my more recent visit, I went here for brunch, and while the Bloody Mary wasn't quite to my taste, I think that's a preference thing more than anything else. The coffee, while a bit expensive for restaurant coffee, is way better than the sludge one normally finds in restaurants and therefore worth every penny. The portions were big but not insanely oversized, and the salmon omelet and Tiramisu pancakes were delicious. (ESPECIALLY the Tiramisu pancakes! Seriously, one of the best breakfasts I've ever had.) It's also nice that they take reservations, and service was good this second time around as well. Highly recommend this place for brunch, though again, I do miss the cozy atmosphere of the old location. I'm not sure I would feel comfortable bellying up to the bar for hours at this one ;)
(4)
Jaz R.

Shrimp cakes and french toast were super tasty. Lots of ice teas to choose from. I want to come back for the sangria bar! Great service and dog friendly patio.
(4)
Casey F.

Never fails to impress a visitor from out of state. Their breakfast is awesome!! Be there before 9:00AM and you'll be good on both wait times and parking.
(5)
Marie M.

We had reservation for Valentine's Day mostly because we waited until the last moment. I read the reviews about the slow service so I gave us 2 hours time before we had to be at the theatre We were seated quickly although our table was dirty and needed to be wiped down before we could sit. Our server approached us within a few minutes and we quickly ordered our drinks and then waited... Our drinks finally arrived and our order was taken. After 37 minutes I asked our server about our food and he basically told me to chill out. Our appetizers came out 55 minutes after we were seated. The food was good but cold. I'm not sure if it was our server or the kitchen but the service was slow!!!! My husband ordered a 2nd beer and it came out in a small glass. We commented that it was tiny and our server overheard and came back with a smart comment. We will not be returning any time soon and it's not a place we'd recommend to anyone
(2)
Vicky N.

The staff are very friendly. I liked this place because it was not as loud as most places downtown. The live band was in a different area from where we were sitting so if you wanted louder, you could sit near band. Also, the lines were not nearly as long as other places down town. The food was decent. I got the kabob platter. It was not the best, but not the worst. My main feedback on the food was that it was fairly bland and the rice was al dente. I don't eat rice very often so I was hoping it was amazing, but I could have skipped it and been fine. Overall the ambiance was great.
(4)
Won K.

San Diego, you are lucky to have such an awesome brunch place as Cafe 21! I was down for the weekend with my girl friend and we were looking for a nice brunch place to hit up before coming back to LA. We read all the great things about the place and decided to check it out. The wait was only 15-20 mins, which is great for a Sunday afternoon if you ask me. We had the prosciutto omelet, the pesto chicken sandwich, and for dessert a half stack of tiramisu pancakes. The omelet and the sandwich were solid, and the side of potato pancake a real great addition to the meal. But the tiramisu pancakes! So amazing, and definitely the highlight of the brunch. A little too sweet for a main course if you ask me, but as a nice little dessert at the end, perfect. The service was exceptionally friendly and attentive. Will definitely be back next time we're in San Diego.
(5)
August M.

Trendy restaurant that could easily go hipster, but rises above it with inventive, but unpretentious food, and super friendly staff. The French Toast is a must! Came here for breakfast with the BF on 4/14/13. I've been here before, but this was his first time. 20 minute wait. But I waited 1.5 hours to eat at Snooze in Hillcrest, so the wait could have been worse. The maitre' d at Cafe 21 was super nice! He didn't balk when he called us for an outdoor table, but we preferred to eat indoors. He chatted it up with us about his favorites on the menu, checked-up on us even while we were seated, and remembered my BF's name. Our waiter was also super nice and attentive. We wanted for nothing. I ordered the strawberry rhubarb stuffed french toast and side order of potato pancake. BF ordered the marinated rib omelette which came with one side (potato pancake). The French toast consisted of two slices of ciabatta, battered with marscapone cheese and strawberry rhubarb on the inside. The top was drizzled with kiwi and strawberry sauce. It also came with a side of fruit. The bread was a little crispy, and bursting with fruity flavor. The cheese gives your mouth a little break from the sweetness, but allows you to transition back into it. The potato pancake was crispy on the outside and soft on the inside, filling my mouth with potatoey (not a word) goodness. I had a few bites of the BF's omelette. The rib meat was deliciously marinated, and I loved the little bit of mozzarella cheese. Cons: It's downtown: Parking sucks It's expensive: Our meal (with no drinks and tip) was $36.00. For breakfast, that's a lot I'll be back :)
(4)
amethy f.

I love this place! I came here on a Saturday morning for brunch and I'm from Northern California. It was exceptional! They had great service, even better food. The ambiance and decoration was terrific! Even food presentation was on point. I had the shrimp cakes with poached eggs and it was delicious. I ate every bite off my plate. My boyfriend had strawberry crapes which were just as good. My boyfriends parents both had omelette skillets that they also enjoyed. For drinks they squeeze their own juices. They use those juices for mimosas and had a great variety of flavors. I had a cucumber, mint, ginger mimosa and my boyfriend had a tangerine mimosa. The mimosas were super yummy and I was satisfied. I didn't get this but the table near me got a white Bloody Mary that came with veggies and grilled cheese on a stick in the drink. This place is very chic, hip and super cute with great everything. I highly recommend coming here!!
(5)
Maggie N.

An adorable place to get brunch if you are in the gas lamp area. I went here for my friends birthday and a quick get away for the weekend. The drinks here are beautifully decorated and the restaurant had a wide selections of beverages ranging from flavored ice teas, mimosa, juices, and coffee. I ordered the salmon omelet which was very fluffy and filling which was a little bit low on the salmon side. It is something I wouldn't order again but would want to try their other dishes with fruits in them. I really liked strawberries and I am very particular and picky in my strawberries. Would stop by again.
(4)
Sophie C.

I love coming here. The restaurant is always clean and nicely decorated and the food always smells awesome. I like getting me a ham and chees omelet, with a side of hash browns and a large orange juice to wash it all down with. They make it really well. Sometimes I have them add lots of mushrooms to it when I'm in that kind of mood. They also make really good French Toast. Whenever I do have French toast here, I have to have it with coffee. To me, it doesn't taste right eating it with orange juice. I love how I already have favorite items here and I've only eaten here a few times. That's how you know a place is good, because you eat there once and it totally enthralls you. I like that. And I was sure to tell all my friends. They like it too and come here with me sometimes. We always leave a big tip because the service is fast and attentive to your needs. I wish I could get service like this at my house but I don't think my husband would approve, ha-ha. I highly recommend this awesome place. I mean, who wouldn't.
(5)
Sarah S.

Great ambience and noise level isnt too loud. Came here for their sangria float and some dessert. First of all, really recommend their float. All six of them were really delicious :) their creme brulee isn't bad but it tastes more like a cheesecake than a creme brulee. Still recommend this place!
(4)
Avery W.

Cafe 21 is a awesome brunch spot downtown with great drinks. The service was very nice and me and my company had a great time there.
(4)
Eddie C.

Very disappointed in this place after eating the day before at cafe 222. This review is a little difficult to write. The wait - we were told a 25 minute wait and were seated in less than 10 minutes. Awesome feeling especially when hungry. Then the wait began. Waiters walked by and walked around but kept passing us. Had I not reached out and brought my waiter to out table, no telling how much longer we would have waited. We ordered our food and the wait again. Total wait time, about 45 minutes after seated. Mimosa flight - tasted good but not great. A different take on mimosas but the samples in the flight were over powered by fruit, but it was a sampling so meh. The bad part, we ordered our drinks first and they came 45 minutes later, even after our food. Bad bad bad. Strawberry pancakes - very thin and no fluff. The taste was just okay. Hard to mess up a pancake, but we didn't even finish it. Was really hoping for some fluffy pancakes. Salmon scramble - good omelet but slightly burnt on top. We shared the meal and between two of us didn't get half way through the omelet. Too much salt but the service could have weighed in on our taste buds by now. I wanted to enjoy this place but the service and food means I won't be coming back. Just too many other great options in San Diego.
(2)
Marissa P.

Great little spot for late night desserts in the Gaslamp District. They had live music on the Wednesday nightwear were there. Late night service was a bit slow and our order had clearly been forgotten but the dessert was worth the wait! The Creme BrÃ»lÃ©e Cheesecake was tasty but the Chocolate Bread Pudding served hot with ice cream was the real winner. Ambiance was nice and they have a rather large patio. Would definitely go back for dessert!
(4)
Kara F.

First time here at new location on a weekday for brunch/lunch. Only reason I can't give it 5 Stars is because the kitchen was beyond backed up and my food came out cold after we had waited way too long to get our food. Also, they forgot my friend ordered orange juice, but at least we weren't charged for it. The manager came over and let us know they were talking my pancakes off the bill, which was a nice gesture and brought me out new eggs. Food-the few bites of straw/choc pancakes I took were generic and could have been better. Maybe if they were hot/warm?! -friend's pesto chx sandwich....DELICIOUS!!!!!!!! Wish I had ordered a sandwich. Presentation-out of this world Although the pancakes won't bring me back and I left still hungry, I will be back because of how they handled everything AND that bite of the pesto sandwich made me want more! Good ambiance too!
(4)
A T.

Incredible food, but crummy service. We went as a group of 4 girls for early dinner on a Sunday. Two of the girls arrived on time for the reservation but they ordered their drinks at the bar before being seated. Myself and another woman arrived a few minutes late and I guess because the other two in our party had drinks in front of them, the servers left us alone. As in ignored us. One woman dropped off menus but was gone so quickly we couldn't get our drink order in. I think it was about 10+ minutes before us two were able to put in a drink order, and another 8-10 til the drinks were in front of us. Couldn't even find the waitress to flag her down. We needed our place settings and I flagged down another waiter to get those, but only napkins and silverware came, so when our tapas arrived we had no plates - so that was another wait. We all stared at our food in anticipation of being able to eat it. At the start of the dinner, we asked for waters all around and had to remind the waitress after we were done eating that we hadn't ever gotten our waters. One of us ordered a glass of ice and that never came. I could tell they were busy but we were pretty irritated over the experience. Again, the food was incredibly good and the place is really cute. I hope that we just caught them on an off night.
(2)
Yianna S.

This place has the perfect brunch menu & atmosphere...we went with the mimosa flight, short rib omelet and pesto chicken sandwich with side of prosciutto. But I wanted to try everything. 4 stars because the service is slow and unorganized.
(4)
Joseph B.

Arrived at around 10am the day after the 4th of July and was met be a throng of people waiting to be seated. The hostess was both seating and writing down names in a disorganized manner, which led to some confusion and people being sat out of order. Hence the three stars. Other than that the service from the waiter was fantastic and food was delicious. I ordered an Artichoke Omelet and my company ordered the peach french toast. I'll likely be back, but only if there isn't a line out the door.
(3)
Kelvin C.

Cafe 21, I was expecting a bit more from you. The high ratings didn't do itself justice. Portobello Mushroom fries - Average. The fries were overcooked to the point where the mushroom became pretty dry. Mushroom Flatbread - Maybe I shouldn't have gone with so many dam mushrooms at this place. While it wasn't bad, the flatbread was just okay. The crust had the consistency and taste of a croissant which made it quite flaky/buttery. Kabob Platter - This dish was decent...but really pricey at $27. Do ask for a side of their homemade salsa. It gives the dish a much needed kick. Lamb Shank - All I tasted was sweetness. I was looking for a bit more "oomph" from this dish. The service was good at first, but midway through our dinner, our waiter's shift had ended. Another waitress that was already helping out several tables inherited us and I'd have to say it was spotty at best. I mean, she did her best, but was clearly overwhelmed. We had a birthday in our group and they gave us a complimentary cream brulee dessert. Usually I don't knock free things but I'm going to be a ingrate today and tell you that it tasted like play-doh. There was just some ingredient in there that tasted like play-doh. I can't explain it. Hopefully it was just a bad night. 2 stars.
(2)
Kelli S.

Fantastic experience. The food was amazing and it didn't hurt that it was all fresh and organic. Nothing and I mean NOTHING was store bought/ready made crap...all the way down to their fresh individually made strawberry lemonade (which you need to try). Try the fondue- it's so creamy and full of flavor! My husband had the turkey burger and I had the stuffed chicken. He loved the burger...LOVED it! The chicken was so yummy and cooked to perfection. So bottom line- this is our San Diego go to. Super yum! Way to go healthy yet savory Cafe 21!
(5)
Ken V.

This review is for the new location on the corner of Fifth and F underneath the Keating Hotel. I live in downtown so I often eat out and I've always avoided this restaurant because of it's mixed reviews.. I decided to try it out since they moved to a prominent location in downtown. Unfortunately, I was hugely disappointed.. It all went horrible from the very start with my drink order. I asked the waitress about the Irish coffee, if it was blended or layered, she told me it was "traditional coffee style". I explained how I did not want it blended so traditional style is perfect.. For anyone that isn't familiar with Irish coffee. Traditional style means sugar/coffee/whiskey/topped w crema. What I received was a essentially all of that blended together. I told the waitress (Tiffany) "I'm sorry but I didn't want it blended." What was so off-putting was her response and attitude. She told me it wasn't blended and I ordered an Irish Coffee which is what she told the bar and that's what I have. I refused the drink, apologized and without asking for an alternative order she let out an obnoxious sigh and walked away. Well my darling, i'm Irish and that is not a traditional Irish Coffee. Google it. But I'm pretty sure with my Irish heritage and the clovers tattooed on me pretty much makes me an expert in the field of knowing what an Irish drink is and isn't. Not to mention ALL of the Irish pubs on fifth ave know what an Irish Coffee is as well. 20min passed when our waitress returned asking if we knew what we wanted to order for our food. I placed my drink order and food order. The waitress this time was clearly angered already with us because of the drink order while ordering our food she double checked with us and explained to us everything that we were ordering. When I ordered the Short Rib pasta she would say "now you know that's with pasta ....ok?" I held my tongue and assured her, I knew what I was ordering.. When our food arrived we were never checked on by the waitress. Half way into our meal she came and asked if we wanted Togo boxes. At that point we were pretty much tired of the way we were being treated and the offer of to-go boxes so early in the meal was the last straw. When she brought the boxes she asked if we wanted dessert. Now I had been eying the April Special Banana Rice Pudding since I first looked at the menu and I wasn't going to let a bad attitude ruin my meal or dessert. I placed my order for the Banana Treat and the waitress told us it would be 20-30min to make the dessert.. Again, biting my tongue and not letting it bother me I said that's fine. Few minutes passed when our dreadful waitress returned and told us "I've just been informed we no longer have that dessert." My partner asked for the check and I pulled out my cell phone and opened yelp. Upon seeing me load the yelp app our waitress never returned to our table and was nowhere to be found. We had to flag another waitress down who closed out our tab. She was very sweet and apologetic. We received a generous discount on our meal and 1000 "I'm sorry's" In closing, the food and portions at Cafe 21 was actually top notch. The presentation and color scheme was executed nicely. This actually would've been a pleasant experience if it weren't for such an awful waitress..
(2)
Christina C.

One of my favorites. 5 stars for sure. I could go on and on about this place. Their breakfast is my favorite on the menu.. And they have tons and tons of different flavors of tea and mimosas. My favorite mimosa is watermelon I get it every time. And their potato pancakes mmm
(5)
Dave M.

Same great food and service. Love the new location. A bit more tinny and hence seemingly noisier, but a pleasant breakfast. We always look for a reason to go to CafÃ© 21!
(4)
Mel L.

Can't wait to come back and try more things! From the yelp pictures, the food looked amazing so I really wanted to try this place out since I've been really into cafes and brunch lately. We started off with the Baklava, which came with a fruit salad and some yogurt. Supposedly, it's homemade "right down to the dough" and I must say it paid off, since it tastes very fresh. Flavors were good, fruit salad was a simple, smart accompaniment along with the yogurt. Good dish but a little overpriced at $8, should be more like $6. For the main dish, we ordered the Salmon Diamonds and Shrimp Corn Potato Cakes. Both were very tasty, although there were small things I would tweak about each. The Shrimp Corn Cakes came with a cilantro cream sauce which was very flavorful and creamy but not too rich and heavy, although it needed more of the balsamic that was on the dish. The Salmon Diamonds needed a sauce. Other than that, I can't complain. Our waitress was very friendly and likable and delivered great service. Cute decor inside, I loved the wall of all the glass bottles and flowers. Although, I scooted my chair and bumped into it and the top bottles wobbled O_O. I hope it's secured on there, it really scared me. We also noticed their good selection of music for the duration of our lunch. Think modern ethnic sounds, like "Lebanese Blonde" by Thievery Corporation and Beats Antique. Also, clean cute bathrooms with more than one hook for my purse :) Pet peeve: bathrooms with no hooks. Blasphemy.
(5)
Sidi L.

My friend told me this place. It's awesome! Foods are perfect! I would come again next time I come San Diego!
(5)
C M.

Absolutely love this place and what they are about. Farm to table, organic cocktails and responsibly raised food. Nice vibe and atmosphere. The restaurant is in a good location . Service was very good. I love how the bar area has their fresh herb garden on the wall used in their organic cocktails. Must try .
(5)
Les S.

The Bloody Mary here is so good, my wife and I came here two days in a row while we were in San Diego. It's spicy and is served with prosciutto, olives, onion, and peppers. My wife ordered it without the alcohol and it was still very good. I also love the salads here. The grilled pear salad was excellent. The grilled pear has a potato-like texture but just slightly sweet and tart. It also has dried cranberries, feta cheese, and balsamic dressing. The strawberry salad, which was a side item with lamb sausage omelette, was really good too. It's very simple but the combination worked really well together. As far as rest of the items, they were just ok. Shrimp corn potato cake looked fantastic but overall taste was a bit too bland. I think I was expecting it to taste more like a sweet corn tamale but it tasted more like potatoes and there wasn't much shrimp. It was more like eggs benedict with corn potato cake. The lamb sausage omelette was also on the bland side. I was hoping it would have some spicy kick to it but it didn't. The tiramisu pancake is massive and is pretty good for the first few bites, but then it starts to get way too sweet. I think this would be better as a dessert than as a breakfast. They have an interesting selection of sangrias with flavors like strawberry pineapple, strawberry basil, cherry lima, fruit punch, as well as the traditional. Service was pretty good on both days which is why I would come back here if I'm ever in San Diego again. That and the spicy Bloody Mary.
(4)
Jordyn L.

Super nice little bar/eatery. Organic and fresh ingredients, even for the drinks that they craft. They even have their own mint growing on a wall garden behind the bar! Our server, Joshua was super helpful and friendly in picking our drinks. My only reason for not giving five stars is the lack of beer selection. I would really love to see a cider on tap.
(4)
Tracy S.

Absolutely my favorite restaurant in San Diego. Every time we go for a conference , we make sure we visit here for breakfast and lunch. Food is so flavorful and not greasy. Whole cafe is so cute too:)
(5)
Nicole B.

Excellent. Truly a hidden gem of a restaurant. The food was fresh, delicious, and unique. We started with avocado fries served with 2 yummy sauces- SO GOOD. My husband got the steak salad with delicious chipotle dressing and I got a flatbread that came with a giant side salad - it filling and delicious. The servings were very large, and the price was affordable. This place has so much character and charm, real thought has been put into creating the menu, and the entrees are filled with fresh quality ingredients. They have a variety of interesting homemade sangrias that looked delish, as well as a huge menu of teas. The decor of the restaurant is exposed brick meets middle-eastern lanterns, and fresh dried lavender- the whole concept for the restaurant is unique and welcoming. The service was also excellent. We will definitely be back!
(5)
Casey G.

This is by far my favorite dining out experience I can recall. I am in San Diego on business and found this place on OpenTable. I was attracted by some of the descriptions of entrees and the wide selection of fruity drinks, because who doesn't love that? My already hopeful expectations were blown away by an incredible night of food! I was immediately greeted and had my drink order taken. I chose the spicy white sangria, one of the 6 daily options that regularly switch up. For dinner, I had the chai fig boneless spare ribs (I have no clue what was in them, but they were fall-off-the-non-existent bone, and tasted like my mom's brisket marinated in barbecue-y bliss. Lastly, I ended with an apple-pear cobbler I wasn't hungry for but couldn't resist. It was cakey and hot and soft and sweet and wonderful. But I have to admit what made this place a great choice wasn't even the food! The bartender/waiters were super friendly and laid back, great at making suggestions without forcing them on you, and it didn't hurt that one or two had a kind face. The live band was strumming at a reasonable volume in the corner, adding to the ambience without detracting from conversation. Everything was perfection. I wish I could go back every morning, noon, and night!
(5)
Deidra S.

Adorable restaurant, but kind of a let down. Came in later in the evening, and ordered some food and coffees. Had a hard time finding something on the menu and the server was crabby and not very helpful. She was in a rush to leave for the night, I don't want to name drop because that seems like a low blow for a negative review (i will name drop on good reviews though). She said the steam wand for making a cappuccino was broken (or she didn't want to make a cappuccino because she seemed in a hurry) then I ordered a regular coffee, it was cold and she gave us milk with it. I asked for half and half and she said they didn't have any. Wow, for a place that has a pretty nice coffee menu, what a let down. At least the server took the coffees off the bill. Would MAYBE try this place again, and hope for a better server!!!
(2)
Lee D.

I have been to Cafe 21 several times now at both the old and new location. I think it is falling off a little, but it is still one of my favorite places in the country. The first time we went was on the recommendation of the concierge at the Bayfront Hilton for the best brunch in San Diego. We walked in and were absolutely blown away by the food. Great drinks, including the jalepeno and pear. I enjoyed the pork belly entree one evening outside as a light rain fell. I enjoyed the location very much. The new place is larger, newer, but does lack some of the appeal of the old place. In particular, I really dislike the upper level as it gets incredibly hot up there. I brought a work group there for an event and it was uncomfortably hot. The happy hour is a hot deal. The crepes are amazing, and the cheese fondue is outstanding. We had it twice, back to back. Also, there is a short, skinny server who works there who is hilarious. Super high energy, very friendly, especially if you're with a group of attractive women. As soon a as group of 5 girls sat next to my group of 6 we were pretty much forgotten. More amusing was when my colleague pointed out that he could not stop looking at himself in the mirror. Sure enough, the very first time he stopped by our table it took no more than 5 seconds for him to break eye contact with us and admire himself in the mirror.
(4)
Becky R.

This was first experience at Cafe 21. Sunday morning brunch with friends and family and it was exquisite. When we arrived it appeared they were over crowded and we sat at the bar and ordered mango Mojitoes to bide our time. It was a few minutes and we were seated, drink orders taken and then our food orders. Waiters were patient and knowledgeable about the food dishes. The food was presented superbly and tasted amazing. The coffee was perfect. I would totally return to this restaurant. My husband and I had stuffed french toast it was to die for. My friend had a spinach salmon omelet which also tasted wonderful. Truly a wonderful San Diego Experience.
(4)
Rachael W.

Came here on a sat morning for brunch. Food was yummy. Server was good. I like the fact they are vegetarian friendly- when he asked what types of food I liked as he was giving suggestions he asked if I was a vegetarian. (I'm not but it was a nice touch) and a flight of mimosas? YES please! Overall a nice time. The wait wasn't very long and the location is good. Recommend the tiramisu pancakes-amaze balls!!
(4)
Donald P.

Had an extremely memorable experience here this morning! I was instantly greeted as I walked up to the entrance by a few employees. One of which ended up being our server! Benny was a delightful young man! He was more than helpful with his descriptive recommendations and truly made this a breakfast my fiance and I won't soon forget! Definitely will be coming back. Thank you Cafe 21!
(5)
Liza D.

This was a great find. All the staff was very friendly. Food and drinks were great. Went back 3 times during my stay. Try the bloody Mary, and mimosa flight.
(5)

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Address : 802 5th Ave
San Diego, CA, 92101
Phone (619) 795-0721
Website https://www.cafe-21.com/
Click To Get Directions

Opening Hours

Mon :8:00 am - 11:00pm

Specialities

Takes Reservations : Yes
Delivery : No
Take-out : Yes
Accepts Credit Cards : Yes
Good For : Brunch
Parking : Street
Bike Parking : Yes
Wheelchair Accessible : Yes
Good for Kids : Yes
Good for Groups : Yes
Attire : Casual
Ambience : Casual
Noise Level : Average
Alcohol : Full Bar
Outdoor Seating : Yes
Wi-Fi : No
Has TV : No
Waiter Service : Yes
Caters : Yes

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Cafe 21

802 5th Ave, San Diego, CA, 92101

Cafe 21 Menu

Caf? 21 Cakes

Pancakes & French Toast

Cast Iron Dutch Pancakes

Crepes

Cast Iron Omelets

Salads

Sandwiches

House Specials

Sides

Healthy Meal suggestions for Cafe 21

Caf? 21 Cakes

Pancakes & French Toast

Cast Iron Dutch Pancakes

Crepes

Cast Iron Omelets

Salads

Sandwiches

House Specials

Sides

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