Caroline's Seaside Cafe by Giuseppe

Cafe · San Diego

Caroline's Seaside Cafe by Giuseppe

Cafe · San Diego

5

8610 Charles F, Kennel Way, La Jolla, CA 92037

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Caroline's Seaside Cafe by Giuseppe by null
Caroline's Seaside Cafe by Giuseppe by Caroline’s Seaside Cafe
Caroline's Seaside Cafe by Giuseppe by Candice Woo
Caroline's Seaside Cafe by Giuseppe by Candice Woo
Caroline's Seaside Cafe by Giuseppe by Caroline’s Seaside Cafe by Giuseppe/Facebook
Caroline's Seaside Cafe by Giuseppe by null
Caroline's Seaside Cafe by Giuseppe by null
Caroline's Seaside Cafe by Giuseppe by null
Caroline's Seaside Cafe by Giuseppe by null
Caroline's Seaside Cafe by Giuseppe by null
Caroline's Seaside Cafe by Giuseppe by null
Caroline's Seaside Cafe by Giuseppe by null
Caroline's Seaside Cafe by Giuseppe by null
Caroline's Seaside Cafe by Giuseppe by null
Caroline's Seaside Cafe by Giuseppe by null
Caroline's Seaside Cafe by Giuseppe by null
Caroline's Seaside Cafe by Giuseppe by null
Caroline's Seaside Cafe by Giuseppe by null
Caroline's Seaside Cafe by Giuseppe by null
Caroline's Seaside Cafe by Giuseppe by null
Caroline's Seaside Cafe by Giuseppe by null
Caroline's Seaside Cafe by Giuseppe by null
Caroline's Seaside Cafe by Giuseppe by null
Caroline's Seaside Cafe by Giuseppe by null
Caroline's Seaside Cafe by Giuseppe by null
Caroline's Seaside Cafe by Giuseppe by null
Caroline's Seaside Cafe by Giuseppe by null
Caroline's Seaside Cafe by Giuseppe by null
Caroline's Seaside Cafe by Giuseppe by null
Caroline's Seaside Cafe by Giuseppe by null
Caroline's Seaside Cafe by Giuseppe by null
Caroline's Seaside Cafe by Giuseppe by null
Caroline's Seaside Cafe by Giuseppe by null
Caroline's Seaside Cafe by Giuseppe by null
Caroline's Seaside Cafe by Giuseppe by null
Caroline's Seaside Cafe by Giuseppe by null
Caroline's Seaside Cafe by Giuseppe by null
Caroline's Seaside Cafe by Giuseppe by null
Caroline's Seaside Cafe by Giuseppe by null
Caroline's Seaside Cafe by Giuseppe by null
Caroline's Seaside Cafe by Giuseppe by null
Caroline's Seaside Cafe by Giuseppe by null
Caroline's Seaside Cafe by Giuseppe by null
Caroline's Seaside Cafe by Giuseppe by null
Caroline's Seaside Cafe by Giuseppe by null
Caroline's Seaside Cafe by Giuseppe by null

Highlights

Californian-style brunch & lunch with ocean views  

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8610 Charles F, Kennel Way, La Jolla, CA 92037 Get directions

carolinesseasidecafe.com

$10–20 · Menu

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8610 Charles F, Kennel Way, La Jolla, CA 92037 Get directions

+1 858 202 0569
carolinesseasidecafe.com

$10–20 · Menu

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Aug 8, 2025

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@eater

19 Stellar Spots for Waterfront Dining in San Diego

"The relaxed breakfast and brunch cafe is located at the Scripps Institution of Oceanography, where you can dine on favorites like curried chicken salad sandwiches and turkey apple sausage scramble. It’s a local favorite hangout, so be prepared for lines on the weekends." - Helen I. Hwang

https://sandiego.eater.com/maps/best-waterfront-restaurants-dining-ocean-beach-view-san-diego-beachfront
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@eater

Where to Eat Near UC San Diego | Eater San Diego

"Run by an acclaimed local caterer, this counter-service cafe located on the UCSD Scripps Institute of Oceanography campus has a primo patio overlooking the ocean. Offering a discount to those holding a UCSD ID, it’s open for breakfast and lunch with a seasonal menu egg dishes and pancakes as well as salads and sandwiches. The surrounding area is also a popular venue for weddings and special events."

https://sandiego.eater.com/maps/best-restaurants-bars-food-university-of-california-san-diego-ucsd-la-jolla
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@eater

18 Picturesque San Diego Restaurants for Your Wedding Day

"For the ultimate seaside wedding, this casual La Jolla café is the backdrop for an elegant beach wedding. Giuseppe Fine Catering works with the venue for setups that range from family-style to interactive live-action tasting bars." - Helen I. Hwang

https://sandiego.eater.com/maps/wedding-venue-reception-dinner-rehearsal-restaurant-san-diego
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@eater

18 Picturesque San Diego Restaurants for Your Wedding Day

"For the ultimate seaside wedding, this casual La Jolla café is the backdrop for an elegant beach wedding. Giuseppe Fine Catering works with the venue for setups that range from family-style to interactive live-action tasting bars." - Helen I. Hwang

https://sandiego.eater.com/maps/best-san-diego-restaurant-wedding-reception
View Postcard for Caroline's Seaside Cafe by Giuseppe
@eater

18 Waterfront Restaurants in San Diego | Eater San Diego

"You’ll find this casual cafe tucked inside the Scripps Institution of Oceanography. Open 8 a.m.-3 p.m., the spot serves familiar cafe classics with plenty of outdoor seating overlooking the water." - darlene-horn

https://sandiego.eater.com/maps/best-waterfront-oceanview-restaurants-san-diego
View Postcard for Caroline's Seaside Cafe by Giuseppe

Eleana May

Google
We love playing casual volleyball games at La Jolla Shores Beach, and I looked up nearby food spots, perfect find! This place is great. Just a heads-up: there’s usually a long line if you’re dining in. But if you’re ordering to-go, the line is much shorter, which worked better for us since we wanted to head back, relax, and enjoy the beach with friends and family. Honestly, the food is worth trying! We loved the tuna sandwich and the beef short ribs hash with eggs. Just note: you can’t get the mimosas for takeout. I didn’t get a chance to take photos of everyone because we were so hungry, but it was definitely worth it. I especially loved the tuna sandwich with the side, just not the salad, haha! I like salad, just not after a game. The front desk staff (I forgot her name) was super friendly and let us know we didn’t need to line up with dine-in customers. There are two lines: one for dine-in and another for takeout/delivery. The takeout line is definitely the way to go.

Jeff Cooperhouse

Google
Amazing brunch with a breathtaking view at Caroline’s Seaside Cafe in La Jolla Shores! Tasty iced cappuccino and mocha. The food was yummy, we liked the beef short rib hash and eggs, curried chicken salad sandwich, and cinnamon roll. Very friendly staff. Expect to wait in line and need some time for your food to come out, but with a view like that you should be entertained. Dog friendly as well. Recommend!

Amber M

Google
Such a great place for breakfast/lunch! Simple food offerings but done well and big portions. You can’t beat the view and atmosphere and the chance to take a stroll on the beach after lunch. Would definitely come back!

marjon farz

Google
They seem a bit unnecessarily strict with their ordering and seating system. Especially considering it's gloomy Monday morning and their is no line and plenty of open tables. They have a cafe order set up, but you can not sit unless you order food from their seating* menu. Also i only ordered a coffee and it stilk took 20mins to come out.. Honestly this place put a bad taste in my mouth. Not sure I'd be a returning customer. Pinpoint is a super cute cafe up the street with better view that id prefer to visit.

Kim Hernandez

Google
Great food. Loved the location, right on the beach. The weather was not the best when we were there, but, they had plenty of covered seating. I would recommend this place for the view alone, but the food was also good.

E M

Google
The views of this cafe are spectacular. Its worth the wait. Stopped by on a busy Sat morning for lunch. Be ready to wait in line to eat. Lines get long and food took about 50 mins. Thankfully, our lattes came super fast. Free parking is hard to find on the street but you can park in the lot. Download the app and pay $4.20 per hr. We ordered a Hazelnut Latte, a Chai Latte and a watermelon juice. Our daughter loved the blueberry pancakes. We had Albacore tuna melt with fries and a vegan avocado toast.

Kevin M

Google
One of our favorite stops in San Diego. Perfect little café with beautiful ocean and beach views with good food. I had the short rib hash and my girlfriend had the Greek egg scramble and both were great. There are a couple classic brunch alcohol drinks and a normal coffee menu. You stand in line to order, then get a table once you have a number to wait. No saving tables ahead or reservations. Food came out in about 10-15 mins. Wait was about 15 mins when we arrived but got longer later. Service is basically bringing out food and clearing...not full service cafe. All were friendly. After eating, it is easy to walk down to the beach and take a walk. Beautiful views, good food, nice people, and beach access...all you can ask for in a seaside cafe.

Monét Thibou

Google
I’m honestly shocked this place has such high reviews and ratings. The best part of this place is the view. If this place was not parked right in front of the beach, I don’t believe they’d do as well. The food here is very sub par for a breakfast/ brunch. Upon arrival, you have to order food first and then you can sit down. Once we sat, we toon stock of how beautiful the view was. We had two burgers and drinks (reasonably priced) but it was subpar, sadly. I didn’t see what the hype was about for this place. Enter at your own risk.

Khsroo K.

Yelp
Chicken sandwich was amazing. The manager is very nice and friendly. She is offering a great service. We like to go there because of her and the view is amazing as well.
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Nolan S.

Yelp
My friend invited me out to this spot for breakfast recently. Its located close to the Scripps Aquarium in La Jolla. Its got beautiful views of the La Jollla shores beach just below with an outdoor deck patio. I ordered a breakfast veggie scramble. Damn, it was actually surprisingly good. Toast, eggs, potatoes on the side. I cleaned my whole plate. My friend only got coffee as she was just getting off a night shift. I was going to get one too on the way out but a long line had just formed so we headed out. I gotta say the rich La Jolla people can eat good sometimes!
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Stephanie D.

Yelp
Disclaimer: Served me raw pink chicken & rude service Caroline's is a friend of mines favorite brunch spot and it was a great view and time regardless of the food. You order first and then find a table either inside or outside. The outside tables are limited and it can get very busy on the weekends. I ordered the chicken Caesar wrap and it came out 20 minutes after we ordered and the rest of the table had already almost finished their food. It was okay up until the point I saw pink chicken. I notified our server and asked "what do you want to do about it" which I said I want a new one. The owner came back again and asked what was wrong with it to which I showed her the raw piece of chicken lying right for her to see. They replaced it but didn't give me any fries. The rawness aside the chicken was dry inside and the rest of the wrap was nothing notable. With the service being not so good as well can't bring myself to give them any stars even though the scenery was great. After my experience here, I would say this place is overrated and I'm shocked to how the server and owner reacted to me being served raw food. I don't plan on coming back.
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Polly H.

Yelp
LOCATION LOCATION LOCATION! aside from the view of the sandy beach and a swell summer breeze .. this place was TERRIBLE - STAY AWAY!! The wait was ridiculously long and don't worry the food was not worth the wait. The only good to come from this place is their mediocre service
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Camille H.

Yelp
Really great view. Surprisingly not busy on a Sunday afternoon. Not my favorite seating set-up: you order at the counter and then find your own seat and they'll bring you your food. It worked out well for me this time with a great seat right by the window overlooking the water, but I would be stressed out if it was busy. I got an iced chai latte with almond milk and it was really good, very sweet and flavorful. The prime smoked salmon presentation was good except that you had to put it together yourself. Everything came separate and you had to assemble it yourself. DIY lox bagel. Good ingredients though.
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Katrina D.

Yelp
The white albacore tuna melt was sooo delicious! Honestly never had a tuna melt at a restaurant before but heard this was popular so I decided to get it, and it was very much worth it! The tuna was very flavorful and pairs soo nicely with the sweet caramelized onions. The sourdough was nice and toasty and the tomato was very juicy! I chose potato salad as a side but it wasn't that flavorful, so maybe opt in for the french fries instead. Overall this was a very filling meal! You could honestly split this into 2 portions. This sandwhich is HUGE Came here on a Saturday for brunch at around 12:30, waited 45 min to order, then waited another half hour to get our food. Show your ucsd student ID to get 30% off your order!!
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Farah A.

Yelp
Located right next to the La Jolla Beach. The view is a 10 on 10. You have to order your food and then get seated. They will bring the food to your table. we had the Mediterranean scramble, egg, whites, scramble, avocado, toast, parfait, salmon bagel. We also got the café latte and macchiato. The food does take some time to come so be prepared to wait. The parfait and coffee was really good but the rest of the food was not that great. The Mediterranean scramble barely had any seasoning. I would go here for the vibe and the view not so much for the food.
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Gamini G.

Yelp
After waiting for a long time, my friends and I finally decided to check out this café we've always wanted to visit. We expected a big crowd, and yes, there was a line, but it moved fast. I chose a simple bagel with butter. It was okay, but nothing extraordinary . My friends tried something different. One went for a veggie scramble and the other for smoked salmon on a bagel, but asked for no capers. They really liked their food. The eggs were just right, and the potatoes were tasty. They also got drinks - a hot chocolate and a latte. They wished their drinks were hotter, but still enjoyed them. What really made our visit special was the view. This café is right by the beach, and you can see the whole ocean while you eat, thanks to a glass wall. I'd definitely go back just for those views! If you're looking for a café with a great view, this is the place.
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Karen M.

Yelp
Just the view, WOW! It's a fantastic way to start your day, making it worth trying out. I visited on a Friday closer to noon, so it wasn't too crowded. We were able to order with only 2-3 people in line, and our food arrived about 20 minutes after ordering, making for a smooth experience. We tried the tuna melt sandwich and the breakfast burrito, which were okay. However, the highlight of this place is definitely the view, with the food being decent. Our friends ordered the pancakes and raved about their fluffiness, thoroughly enjoying them. Parking on the street was easy and quick for us to find
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Marc B.

Yelp
Started with the cinnamon roll, which was plentiful, good and very very sweet. I enjoyed the flavor of the All-American Scramble (with toast and potatoes) and the portions were generous. Small critiques: 1) bring more than 1 tiny butter container; 2) excellent seasoning on the potato chunks, but cut them a little bit smaller to avoid the dense middle. The female co-owner that took the order was helpful and courteous. There were a lot of people in front of us in line, but the food came out in a decent amount of time. Great views of the beach from the outside seating (benches and individual tables). Plus inside seating too. Note: they stop serving weekday specials precisely at 11:30am. No wiggle room.
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Tanisha M.

Yelp
You can't beat this breakfast with the view of the ocean! Their brunch options are reasonably priced as brunch places can usually get very pricey. I got the vegetable scramble with potatoes and toast. The eggs were cooked to my liking and everything was well seasoned. The service was fast but it helped that we came on a weekday. Overall great bunch vibes, would definitely come again. :)
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Megan P.

Yelp
Food was amazing! We got there at 8:40am and it was the perfect time between rushes. It's busy but the views are amazing. The staff were awesome and super helpful. We got drinks and pancakes with eggs and breakfast potatoes and it was enough to share.
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Setareh F.

Yelp
To start, the view is killer. Very nice I was disappointed to see that the breakfast sandwich and breakfast burrito are only served on weekdays, leaving very little variety on the weekend menu. I ordered the artichoke caprese panini and an iced vanilla latte. The vanilla latte was great. The panini was cold and tasteless and the mozzarella was cold. Barely any artichoke or tomato on the panini. The side potato salad was also tasteless. The short rib has was better.
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Andrea G.

Yelp
Enjoy a wonderful view of La Jolla Shore, but with a long line and wait time on weekends, not sure if it's worth all that wait. Ambiance: Gorgeous views that remind one of how beautiful San Diego is! Great view overlooking La Jolla Shores, where you can people watch surfers and beach goers. I would probably recommend this for breakfast beforehand if you're planning a trip already to the Birch Aquarium, since it's right by it. Good option for breakfast and best to skip the brunch crowd. Parking: there is paid parking at the lot (using Park Mobile App) right by the café and it's about five dollars or so an hour. I'm sure you could park a little farther as there is some street parking as well but you'd have to walk. Service: Servers are really nice and they try their best to accommodate a large number of people. Is for some first serve and you cannot reserve seats until after you order, which I do appreciate the efficiency behind that. One of our servers actually helped bring our number over to find a table for us! * however, the biggest con is the really long line. especially around brunch time starting at around 10 AM... about 20-30 minutes in line. They also have a sign once you get to the front that it will be about a 30 to 40 minute wait after ordering as well, which is pretty accurate. Would not recommend if you just went on a hike like we did and starving in general. Food: I will say that I am glad they offer pastries to purchase, such as croissants, apple, tart, and even carrot cake . If you are starving, this is a great side that you can purchase to hold you over until the food gets to you, bc again it will take at least 40 minutes or so on the busiest time. I had the peanut butter cookie to share with my husband, it was really great protein that wasn't too filling since we shared. I personally had the beef short ribs hash with Over-easy eggs, and it was really tasty. The bread is so-so nothing special. Our table also shared the buttermilk pancakes, which were so soft; I like the option to customize add-ons like chocolate chip and banana. Overall the food is not bad, but I don't think this is worth the wait both in line and after ordering per se.
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Melani J.

Yelp
This wrap was very tasty! And I love the view that came along with it. Service was great. The staff was very friendly.
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Ashwin N.

Yelp
The food was really solid. You get a really nice view of the ocean as well. There is a bit of a long line so plan accordingly. Everyone I went with enjoyed their meal and we had no complaints. The staff were super nice and worked hard to make sure that we had a table that seated 8 even though they were really packed- I really appreciated how caring they were to make sure we were accommodated for without a reservation.
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Athena A.

Yelp
Views 10/10 Food 10/10 Coffee 10/10 Service 10/10 And they have a bathroom if you really need to go and you are by the beach. This place is a gem in this area. You can sit and enjoy the ocean view while soaking up the sun. Very high quality food and service.
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Monica L.

Yelp
Decently long wait but it's not too bad when you have friends to wait with The views of the beach/pier are very nice. And inside is very lively and bustling since it's such a popular place The food is alright. I got a butternut squash panini and I didn't realize it'd be just a thin slice of butternut squash. It was slightly crunchy -- to be honest I was expecting maybe like a mashed butternut squash with more flavors mixed in. The panini did have a hint of truffle flavor as advertised. But all in all it was a pretty simple sandwich for a not super low price. And at least the fries on the side fill you up!
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Stella A.

Yelp
We saw this café on social media and thought "Why Not?" We spontaneously drove 1.5 hours to try this café out! Upon arrival at the location, we found parking to be sort of difficult. We ended up finding street parking that was a 25 minute walk to the place which was not bad at all. Right off the bat it was crowded. We arrived around 10:30am on a Saturday so we expected it to be busy. There was a line to order your items at the register. This line took maybe 20-30 minutes. Staff were super friendly and accommodating. They were also very quick with cleaning up after customers. We ordered our items and got our number. This was a self seating café and luckily we were able to find great seats quick. The views were stunning this day! We ordered quite a bit since we made the drive. Food did take some time, so prepare to wait. We ordered the house made chocolate chip pancakes, all-American egg scramble with an extra side of breakfast potatoes, and the smoked salmon bagel. All of which was really delicious as we were starving from waiting. Though I will say, the food wasn't "out of this world". Would definitely be coming back for the views, but not so much for the food. Overall, glad we got to try this place. The view definitely was a great way to start our Saturday!
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David M.

Yelp
Order first then sit down.. we had a big group but the manager move a few people to get us all on one table.. they really don't like you moving tables around. American scramble applewood bacon and Swiss cheese so good the potatoes are crunchy. The view is what's it's about and the food makes it that much better.. good service, good food manager is excellent.
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Gail U.

Yelp
Breathtaking view of the pier, ocean and surfers, good morning beautiful way to begin the day. Happy birthday Doc thanks for inviting us to spend today with you.
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Sharon B.

Yelp
Great little restaurant right on the beach with a beautiful view of the ocean and the Scripps pier. Parking was a bit challenging. You need to try and find parking in the neighborhood and walk to the restaurant. It's a small restaurant but there is a nice size outdoor patio area and more tables inside. Most people are outside to take advantage of the view. That's why we're there after all. Food was good and my mixed greens salad was very fresh. I do wish it had other vegetables on it though. Throw some cherry tomatoes or cucumbers on it? We ordered the chicken salad sandwich and the butternut squash sandwich.
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Jennifer K.

Yelp
This place has a beautiful view, but unless you are seeking a full meal you might want to skip it. We hiked up a bunch of stairs to get there when we spotted them on a walk on the La Jolla shores beach. On a weekday morning only a couple other tables had patrons on their patio. Checked out the menu, not anything special but decided to get some coffee and a pastry to enjoy the view. However you can not sit on their patio unless you purchase food prepared in the kitchen. After paying nearly 8 dollars for a chai that came out of a box this was frustrating. They should post clear signage that patio is only for patrons who order hot food only. I can see having certain policies when the patio is busy or to avoid people camping out for hours with a laptop however this was not the case.
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Doug G.

Yelp
While in La Jolla recently we stopped for a light lunch at Caroline's Seaside Café. Their motto is simple, fresh, and natural to which I would add ... tasty. The views from this café are some of the best I have seen in the area. The restaurant provides both indoor and outdoor seating. When you walk in, you order, are given a table number flag and find your own spot to eat. Note, the menu is limited and you will likely need to wait for your most desired spot. We decided to split a Tuna Salad Sandwich and each ordered our own bowl of mushroom soup. The soup came with bread. Everything was good and filling.
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Nani N.

Yelp
Came here once with my friends and loved it. The wait wasn't long and the view was so amazing. The food was your typical brunch food, nothing spectacular. Definitely will be coming back here again.
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Mia L.

Yelp
The view from this place was gorgeous. The manager was there that day and she was nice but had a few strange/strict rules about running the restaurant (you couldn't sit if you only ordered a pastry/drink (to-go items only)), wouldn't let us put our bags on a table until after we ordered even though the place was empty/had no other customers in line, tried to kick us out as I was still eating my order I had received 10 minutes prior). My bagel was/cream cheese came with very little cream cheese and it wasn't that great altogether. My chai and apple tart were pretty good.
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Dominic B.

Yelp
Caroline's is a great spot to pick up breakfast/lunch while taking in the La Jolla shores view. My go-to is the Tuna melt which has nice chunks of tuna with a good amount of cheese and the sourdough always has a good toast to it. This place can get packed which can add to the wait time, but not an issue if you're not in a rush. If you're a UCSD student or staff, they also give a generous 30% discount!
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Samuel D.

Yelp
Came here for brunch and of course the amazing ocean view. First time here and it did not disappoint. You first place your order and then find your table. Basically almost any spot has a great view of the ocean; whether indoor or obviously outdoor patio. The pancakes were nice and fluffy; definitely worth ordering. The short rib, potatoes, and eggs definitely can feed two (or easily devoured for one after a nice day of surfing or hiking or whatever sport). If you're looking for a brunch spot with breath taking views this is the place to come to.

Trash Police C.

Yelp
The service was not great the fellas at the register didn't know what was going on and it took a real long time. The food was just okay. It took a super long time to get out which makes sense because of the rush of people. When the food came out they were skimpy with butter, jellies, and syrups. Overall not great, waited for some just okay food.
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Johnny V.

Yelp
I loved the food here! Is it worth the guaranteed 45 minute wait for each meal? Probably not. But if you're in no rush and are looking for a nice ocean-side cafe to grab brunch-- here's your spot! Food took a bit to come out, but it was definitely good. Service could be better/faster. We were amidst a heated debate between some servers, (I believe a manager?) and some customers. This was in the middle of the eating area outside, and was not the most pleasant experience. I will say the food quality is the one thing they have going for them.
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Kimmy G.

Yelp
Took our daughter (new to SD) here for brunch. Ambiance is awesome, beautiful deck and view of the ocean from up above. Food was amazing, healthy and yummy. I'd give it a 5 except for the following: When ordering at the counter, you better have your table number before you sit down anywhere! Felt bad for the runner who was policing everyone who sat at tables before they had their numbers. Also, 1 ladies bathroom and a HUGE line. Go before you go and stay for the food and the view!
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Alycia A.

Yelp
Delicious food! Perfect view of the ocean depending on where you sit. There is inside/outside dining available. When you arrive you place your order and then find a table. Street parking wherever you can find it. Everything appeared clean, staff was friendly. I like that it is walking distance to the beach. There is one bathroom that seems to always have a very long. We will definitely be back, my salad was perfect! My kiddo loved the pancakes and bacon.
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Cari A.

Yelp
This is one of my favorite hidden gems in La Jolla. This is a great place for UCSD affiliated individuals to get food at a large discount with beautiful ocean views. After you place your order inside, you will get a number and the staff there will bring you your food. Pros: -30 percent discount when you show your ucsd ID -ocean views -serve breakfast and lunch items -outdoor seating -they do have a vegan option on their menu -generous serving of their salad -ucsd parking lot outside of restaurant Cons: -seating can be limited. I came with a group of 6 people and we had to share a picnic bench table with another couple
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Isa J.

Yelp
Caroline's is a great place to grab breakfast with a view! There's plenty of outdoor sitting and even though we came at 10am on a Saturday we still managed to get a great table with a great view of the beach! The short rib hash was so good!!! The smoked salmon with bagel was okay but I wish it came built already. It's just a little messy to build it yourself. The other problem I had is that they don't tell you you are supposed to wait for your drinks by the register. I was sitting at my table waiting for my cappuccino and by the time I realized I had to go get it, it was so cold. Regardless, Caroline's is a great spot and prices are not too bad! I will for sure be coming back, the pancakes looked phenomenal!
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Chanel Y.

Yelp
We stopped in for brunch with a view, and we were not disappointed. It's beautiful! While it wasn't exactly a sunny day, I really have no complaints. The staff working gave us the corner table and she was so so so sweet! I hope she gets a raise!
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Marlina L.

Yelp
This place is just beautiful. The food was fine made cafe food which is why it's on the not so cheap side. Lines can be long as it gets more popular. Parking could be a challenge

Jenny C.

Yelp
Food was ok but watching view is just perfection. Service was super friendly, the line is super long, and there is only one bathroom which the line is also super long for. Still worth it for the location. Taking a towel and hitting the beach below after we ate was amazing.
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Adnan F.

Yelp
Let me start off with parking in La Jolla can get complicated but thankfully I got luck finding a spot. I was very excited to try a new breakfast spot with a nice view. I ordered a beef hash with eggs over easy and a tuna sandwich hot which was delicious. Definitely worth the drive and time for me to have an amazing breakfast. The staff was very nice and kind and provided the best customer service I could have expected. The view was breathtaking. Was a nice walk after breakfast around the beach.
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Jo C.

Yelp
This place is always packed and I can see which, nice indoor/outdoor seatings with a view of La Jolla beach. This is my second attempt trying to order and eat at the cafe/restaurant. The first time I came it was around 2PM on a Friday and they were so busy that they only allowed takeout orders since they close at 3PM. I came here around 1:30PM on a Tuesday during Thanksgiving week and it was very busy full of tourists? I had to wait about 10-15 minutes in line just to order and then another 20-30 minutes for the food to arrive. The way it works is you line up, order your food then grab a table with your number so they know where to find you when they bring your food out. You can only grab a table once you have an order number and yes they will actually enforce it as I've seen staff approach those without numbers. However, you can't switch tables after sitting down, they will actually enforce it. I've seen many people approached by a staff immediately after they try to switch tables. That also depends on what's available since it's always so busy. It's great that they enforce the rules so you don't have to worry about finding/fighting for tables. These rules are posted literally everywhere especially at the windows where you order food. In addition, there's always a staff cleaning the tables, and floor, which is great since customers leave their food when they are done. The staff member was on top of it, as soon as customers left the tables were cleaned so the next customers could sit. Despite it being very busy, it was clean overall. FOOD They call it a cafe but they actually have breakfast and lunch food options, savory and sweet options, including coffee and some cakes available. They also have Coke products and self serve ice water and takeout containers by the door. I got the beef hash, eggs my way, toast with butter and jam on the side. The portions were huge, however taste is mediocre. The beef was a bit dry, needed more sauce and flavor. We definitely didn't finish it for two people. I also ordered a bagel combo. There were three bagel choices, sesame, everything and plain. I loved that my bagel was toasted without asking! There were several layers of smoked salmon but they were not salty in a good way. Two big scoops of plain cream cheese, capers, raw red onion, lettuce, slices of tomato on the side of the dish. The ingredients were fresh and generous. You assemble it however you like. Parking is extremely hard to find, and the close ones are only for UCSD staff and students. I had to park 10 mins walk away after circling a few street along with other cars that were mainly surfers, tourists and locals. It's not the most delicious food I've had but there are options for everyone on the menu. The amazing beach view, weather, surfer watching, bustling atmosphere makes it a great place to visit with family/friends out of town.
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Jenny C.

Yelp
This place was such a beautiful cafe in La Jolla with a nice ocean view. The line was really long but once we got there, the food came out pretty fast. I ordered the bagel with cream cheese and lox and it was delicious. The lox tasted super fresh and the side of fruit and veggies were a great addition. We got seated indoors but still was able to see the incredible view.

Matthew T.

Yelp
Had this for lunch so many times when I was a student worker at Scripps. Overall, the food is not bad, though I would say the view is the real draw here.
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Justine D.

Yelp
Kind of torn between a three and four star review here... maybe closer to a 3.4? The Sunday brunch line is ridiculously long, and one thing to note is that they will NOT let customers claim a table unless they have a number. So after an almost 20(?), maybe even 30(?) minute wait in line, we got to the front and were then told we couldn't even order because there were no tables available. A very bizarre concept... Another 5-10 minutes passed and we finally ordered and got a number. When the food was served, it was really only decent and not anything much more beyond that. We got the yogurt and the Beef Short Ribs Hash. As mentioned before, the food was decent, but not sure it was worth a 40+ minute wait. I honestly think that the view is what people come for, and not sure if that's what kept this restaurant going for so long...

Nicole C.

Yelp
The wait was long but the food and reviews were worth it!! Service was amazing! The manager I believe her name was Afridita checked for tables for us and made sure our food was up to par. Will definitely come back!!
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Mikan B.

Yelp
Nice view! Nice view! Nice view! Very casual atmosphere! One thing... it was pretty sunny and no shade at my table so next time I'll bring a hat!
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Jean W.

Yelp
This little place is a hidden gem. Although parking is an issue, the food & the ocean views were worth the walk. We ordered a tuna melt & fries and a salad which were all delicious. The fries arrived cold but they were quick to replace with hot. Another negative was that there is only one bathroom for everyone ~ long line! But not a deal breaker. Worth the food & the view.
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Kimi L.

Yelp
Love this place! Its so quiet and beautiful! Don't go oN weekends its busy but any day here is a slice of vacation.
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Jamie L.

Yelp
Quite enjoyed this cafe! It's got a beautiful view of the ocean which I'm not sure you could get anywhere else for this food price. The portions were massive! Food was pretty good, very typical American breakfast. We enjoyed it! There is no parking there so we had to street park and walk over. It is counter service only. You order at the counter and sit down at a table to eat and clean up after yourself.
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Christy S.

Yelp
The view, the food, the vibe-it was perfect. A friend was visiting from out of town and we had just come from the Birch Aquarium and looking forward to watching waves and pelicans fly over. There at lunch time, it took about 20 mins to move through the line. After you order food at the counter, you take your number and grab a table. They don't allow to save a table ahead of time while you are in line. They have the system that works efficiently for them. We ordered the Tuna Salad Sandwich on wheat and comes with a lightly dressed mixed greens and the Seasonal Chopped Salad add Grilled Chicken. Both dishes were fresh, appropriately dressed and generously portioned for lunch. We both took 1/2 our meals home. The Chopped Salad had romaine, arugula, quinoa, avocado, butternut squash, a dinner roll and lightly dressed in a vinaigrette. The chicken really was the star for me. I was surprised how perfectly cooked, moist and was the unexpected perfect addition to the salad. The Tuna Salad was fresh and not overly done with mayonnaise along with sliced tomato and leaf lettuce. It's a great location and it screams California Coastline. Well done Caroline's Seaside Cafe.
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Andrea Q.

Yelp
This is a fast-casual restaurant, with a gorgeous view of La Jolla shores. It's located next to the Marine building belonging to UCSD, there is no parking available during the week it's only street parking. Serving breakfast and lunch, you can choose to sit inside or out. Seating is limited and first-come, first-serve. It gets a bit busy during the week, weekends are very busy.
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Ayesha A.

Yelp
This is such a lovely cafe right on the beach! The prices are very reasonable for the location. -Power breakfast $15: 5 egg whites with avocado and fruit. My boyfriend enjoyed it. -Smoked salmon presentation $14: bagel with cream cheese and yummy salmon and fruit! I loved this. If you're looking for a reasonable brunch/breakfast place near the beach for the amazing views! I highly recommend this :)