Old Townhouse Restaurant

Old school classic vibe as expected. Really liked the layout and decor. Staff was very friendly and inviting. Food was meh…ordered the waffle breakfast with sausage, eggs and hashbrowns. The waffles were super thin, sausage tasted cheap like from the frozen isle, eggs were good and Hashbrowns were cooked perfectly but tasted stale. My Momma had the biscuits & gravy and wasn’t impressed. Our server was great food wasn’t bad just mediocre quality with plenty room for improvements.

If you're craving a taste of Ocean Beach's laid-back charm served with a side of delicious comfort food, look no further than the Old Townhouse Restaurant. This hidden gem captures the essence of OB with its cozy atmosphere and friendly vibes. From the moment you step inside, you're greeted with the aroma of sizzling bacon and the sound of laughter echoing off the walls. The menu is a love letter to classic diner fare, with mouthwatering burgers, hearty breakfasts, and satisfying sandwiches that hit the spot every time. Whether you're nursing a hangover or fueling up for a day of surfing, the Old Townhouse has got you covered. But it's not just the food that keeps locals coming back—it's the sense of community you feel as soon as you walk through the door. It's like stepping into Cheers, where everybody knows your name (or at least your order). The staff are like family, and they'll make sure your meal is served with a side of good conversation and a warm smile. So next time you find yourself in Ocean Beach craving a taste of home, swing by the Old Townhouse Restaurant. You'll leave with a full stomach and a heart full of OB love.

This place is great for breakfast while you’re in San Diego. It was a very cozy diner that served us very well. We got the French toast breakfast along with the waffle breakfast which came with eggs, hash browns, and the choice of sausage or bacon. I would have liked the waffle to have been a bit thicker and the sausage links were like the frozen ones from the grocery store. Overall, everything tasted great. The eggs and hash browns were cooked to perfection. It was a great feast!

I was told by multiple people that I had to try the well recommended Biscuits and Gravy (2 biscuits halved with sausage gravy) at The Old Townhouse Restaurant. So yesterday on my day off, I ventured back. I went in 45 minutes before they closed (closed at 2pm on a Thursday), felt bad about the timing so I asked the ever so awesome Anna if it was too late to order and she smiled, welcomed me in and said of course not. At that time it was not super busy (how I like things), so I ordered my food, ate it and was literally out of the restaurant within 20’ish minutes. This photo of the B&G is probably the most bland photogenic dish I’ve posted to date but I’ll tell you there’s nothing bland about this plate. Sometimes the best things are hidden in plain sight. If you’re in the mood for old school comfort diner food, this will hit that spot and then definitely take you way behind. This gravy could easily be sold as a soup in a cup to go by itself and those biscuits were like fluffy clouds. I’ve tried biscuits in the past (most times super dry) and I’ve almost choked to death. The texture with these Old Townhouse Restaurant biscuits were perfection with ample amount of gravy (which is key) to make the whole plate delicious!!!

Your typical breakfast joint with all your favourite dishes. The omelettes are filled with whatever you choose. The hash browns are crispy and plentiful. The biscuits with gravy was alright. The gravy was too thick for my liking and got cold way too fast. Fantastic service. I never had to ask for a refill. The staff were on top of the coffee and water

I used to love this place. haven't been in a while just came back. they've turned it into a tourist spot I guess or the landlord raised the rent so high they have to charge $5 for a small glass of milk. 15.00 a plate for eggs and bacon and hash browns? you have lost your mind never going back here again even though it was delicious. vote with your dollar. and the chocolate milk that cost 5 bucks was gross anyway. so shocked. there' was only a few tables full so I guess the message has been sent because this place used to be packed. raising your prices moderately is okay but they're charging Las Vegas prices over here oh well another San Diego staple crushed. waitress was great just couldn't give her any money after I paid $44 for breakfast for two people

This is a locals joint first and foremost. The attention to the locals was evident in the lack of attention to us. My wife asked for a coke from the person who brought us our drinks. He seemed annoyed by her not getting coffee, but I got my coffee right away. Finally my wife had to get up and ask for it after the server still failed to get it. The owner or manager that was there seemed to be distracted and barely looked at us when he brought the soda. No refills were forthcoming until we were almost ready to leave. But I was asked only. $7 for a fountain soda that we asked for three times is the definition of highway robbery. I am well aware that a 16oz glass of soda on average costs about 6 to 8 cents on average. My numbers could be outdated, but even in was 5 times that, the profits are excellent for the business. Now to the food. The biscuits and gravy were excellent. The bacon was crispy. I had the huevos rancheros, which were almost flavorless. The small cup of salsa saved the day. I think if I went again, I would order a traditional American breakfast. That seems to be their niche. But please, keeping drink orders filled and to the table quickly is service 101 in the restaurant industry. Follow up to this review: As I suspected, a standard response to this review was posted by, I would assume, the owner or the manager. If you notice, this is the same response to almost all reviews, good, bad or mediocre. I only can hope the owner or manager uses all constructive criticism as a positive tool to improve the business if so desired.

Easily the BEST BREAKFAST in San Diego! The waitress Ana is so friendly and handles the whole restaurant with ease. The food!! The food is amazing they have hash browns with peppers and onions... so good! And the BEST BISCUITS AND GRAVY ever!! A real gem and they open at 7 for you early birds. Came here once last week and now I go everyday. Seriously so good!

This place is not for everyone. Do not come here if you are a brunch princess who needs all the bells and whistles to be satisfied. This place offers a solid breakfast if you are coming in after a long night out or even if you just want a classic American breakfast (ain't nothing wrong with that). I usually go there 1-2 times a month with my girlfriend and we just love it. The pancake/waffle combo is such a good deal that has plenty of food and hot coffee. Highly recommend if you are in OB.

So the waitress if she has friends in the restaurant don't count on getting your food out while it's hot. She would rather sit there and bullshit with her F'ing friends. Than be attentive to customers. At least three people had their food in the window. While she chatted for 5 minutes. My food was completely cold. So I sent it back. But of course now I have to take a chance that the cook has some ethics and didn't f'ing spit in my food. The food did come out hot, but now the eggs were completely over cooked. Then of course when she brought them back. She brought the original plate too. And when I asked her about it she copped and attitude. Saying we were just going to throw them away so you can take them home. Like WTF? There is no way I would trust them. I guess if I get the shits later. I will definitely be adding to this review. And I am sure her friends food came out nice and hot. What a fucked upon way to get treated on your birthday. This place has always have good food and I've eaten here many times before. But today the service absolutely sucked. It was also nice of her to fucking ignore me the rest of the time. Did not check on me once. What a selfish bitch! Oh and by the way they upcharge for everything

Attentive service! I like to compare the classic Eggs Benedict. I added avocado this time. The sauce was just sweet enough, and the server suggested their pico de gallo sauce which had the little heat it needed to be well rounded! I was was drawn to the casual atmosphere, feels like home.

Just checking back in to say we love the old townhouse! Food and service are always great and getting in here on a weekday morning is pretty quick. Love the vibe and decor as well. 10/10 recommend trying them out.

The Old Townhouse is a staple breakfast joint in OB. It's your typical, friendly, greasy-spoon diner dishing out all the classic breakfast dishes at lightning speed. I've been several times, but just stopped in recently after my eye appointment while I was waiting for my glasses. I was craving breakfast for lunch so I went with the 2 eggs, sausage, hash browns, and pancakes combo. It was exactly what I wanted - nothing fancy but still delicious. It truly did hit the spot. Service was quick and friendly and I liked having my bill ready at the table to go up to the register whenever I wanted and was done. I think I was in there maybe 45 mins total? Super efficient! If you're looking for a hearty breakfast in OB, this is your spot!

My girlfriend and we're coming into SD for a festival and this place was right next to our stay. Food was what you'd expect from your local diner, and the service was amazing as well! A lot of funny signs and quirky things on the walls, and a lot of character.

Substantial Diner Servings, Crispy Hashbrowns Enjoyed: Pancakes tasted almost like a sourdough pancake. Option to add chocolate chips for $1 Tip: Any of the specials are a great deal - 4 food types for $15. 1 - Hashbrowns 2 - 3 Eggs any style 3 - 2 Bacon or Sausage, 4 - 2 Pancakes, 1 Waffle, French Toast, or 1 biscuit & gravy Breakfast Special, Townhouse Special, or Biscuit Special Next Time: Would try a coffee or hot chocolate with my meal Service: No complaints! Easy check out with credit card machine at table Interior: Classic diner vibes, with fun signs on the wall to give you a chuckle 5 stars for value, fast service, & delivering as expected Visit: 4.25.24

I came to this place with friends from high school over a decade ago. I don't think the place has changed since ever. I love this style of diner. Makes me feel like I am transported to when San Diego was a sleepy beach town and not a metropolis it is today. The service is quick, you seat yourself and wait patiently for the lovely buser to drop some fresh coffee. As soon as you get your order, the food magically appears. I love it. Consistent goodness. *bonus they have the most affordable drinks

The service was great our waitress was cheerful and very engaging. Very small place, very homey feel. The food was good my only disappointment was the gravy. It was very flavorful but the texture was gummy. Overall nice place to have breakfast.

How can you beat being close to the beach on a Saturday morning. Went here for a basic breakfast. If you're looking for a chain, pub like place, so much food it's ridiculous, this isn't for you. They still had the old school counters and just good vibe. I ordered the biscuit special and my son the cheeseburger. Good biscuits and gravy and enough gravy for the biscuit I got. Good food and great friendly service.

there was a waitress with curly hair who was very very rude I asked her a simple question and her response was rude she was no help at all but the guy was nice

The place was busy but we didn't wait too long to be seated. I ordered the veggies Benedict with a side of corned beef hash and a regular coffee. We got our food rather quickly and the food was delicious! My two kids shared the townhouse French toast and it came with 4 slices of French toast, scrambled eggs, 2 sausages and hash browns. Perfect for sharing. Will definitely be back again!

This place gets packed during peak hours for breakfast / brunch / lunch. I went when the traffic had died down a bit and ordered the Chorizo and Eggs which came with refried beans and tortillas. I wasn't able to finish my meal, but it was good. If I were to ever come back here, I would want to try something else though. The options are endless here and they're what people of OB consider to be a local gem. Old school diner booth table seating and counter bar seating. If you see a line outside, don't let it deter you.

I ordered a steak and two eggs over medium and French toast and was charging additional $3 for English muffin the steak was small to medium the eggs were not big and the French toast did not taste like French toast and the additional charge of English muffin came out to almost $40 for the entire meal way overpriced not a good meal

This is all of my friends' go to spot for a quick brunch/breakfast. It's right on the Main Street in OB and immediately smells like fresh coffee and eggs. Staff is always funny and gives you a comfortable, local feeling like you know them already (whether you actually do or not). Food is always great and there's almost never a wait. You can get in and out in under 40 minutes and less than $20 per person. You'll have a solid meal, feel local, and be on your way.

I was told by multiple people that I had to try the well recommended Biscuits and Gravy (2 biscuits halved with sausage gravy) at The Old Townhouse Restaurant. So yesterday on my day off, I ventured back. I went in 45 minutes before they closed (closed at 2pm on a Thursday), felt bad about the timing so I asked the ever so awesome Anna if it was too late to order and she smiled, welcomed me in and said of course not. At that time it was not super busy (how I like things), so I ordered my food, ate it and was literally out of the restaurant within 20'ish minutes. This photo of the B&G is probably the most bland photogenic dish I've posted to date but I'll tell you there's nothing bland about this plate. Sometimes the best things are hidden in plain sight. If you're in the mood for old school comfort diner food, this will hit that spot and then definitely take you way behind. This gravy could easily be sold as a soup in a cup to go by itself and those biscuits were like fluffy clouds. I've tried biscuits in the past (most times super dry) and I've almost choked to death. The texture with these Old Townhouse Restaurant biscuits were perfection with ample amount of gravy (which is key) to make the whole plate delicious!!!

I can still remember perfectly when, exactly 4 years ago, I arrived at San Diego for the first time in my life. Next morning, I went to the Old Townhouse Restaurant and, since then, I try to come as much as I can because I LOVE THIS PLACE! The Food is incredibly tasty! From the bacon, eggs and Hash brown (Yummy!) to the Benedict eggs and the breakfast burrito. The variety is awesome, it is always very well cooked and it gets the table very fast even when they are very busy (Bravo for the cooks!). The Ambiance is gorgeous. It feels like a very traditional breakfast place whitout pretentiousness but with a lot of heart and a great amount of things to offer. The service is outstanding! From the waitresses to the bussers, everybody is very focused on their jobs and they are incredibly nice with the costumers. Thank you, guys!

Had to make my rounds while in OB and this place is still just as good. Can't beat the $16 mimosa bottle deal, and the food was delish! Highly recommended!

I don't know how this place has 4.5 stars on Google. The food is bland as hell. I had the veggie benedict, the egg was fried when it's supposed to be poached and the hollandaise tasted like chicken broth. But the worst part we're the bathrooms!!! OMG I wouldn't be surprised if people catch hepatitis in there. They were DISGUSTING!! They need to be power washed with bleach! Won't ever step foot in there again. I would give zero stars if I could.

Full of locals. Great vibe. Good music. Good food. It's s one of my new happy places.

I would give this 3.5 if I could! I wish the gravy wasn't drenched over my biscuits which made it soggy and the service was a bit slow. I think the overall ambiance was homey and comfortable! The owner was really nice since we did have a large party and it seemed busy even on a weekday.

Best food and service hands down! Family owned and operated since '73 all the classic staples a good diner needs

This is a traditional breakfast and lunch cafe, much like you'd find in a small town. Today we had the avocado toast, which I was happy to see on the menu. The toasted bread came with a light smear of avocado that was topped with cheese crumbles and pickled onions. The preparation was a nice twist on simple toast with avocado. My large OJ was actually LARGE, which was a nice change from the smallish glasses often put out as a large OJ. Overall, a nice place that I look forward to coming back to visit.

This place has life changing biscuits and gravy! So delicious, we almost came back two days in a row! It's very old school diner feel with fast friendly staff. Well eat here every time we're in the area for sure!

Wow what a great funky adorable place! There are funny posters throughout the diner style restaurant and service was great. My companion and I had the advertised special. Avocado toast. It was well beyond the typical avocado toast. First you had a choice of breads , we tried rye and sourdough. They came cut on the diagonal and were smeared with ripe avocado, topped with bacon pieces and generous feta cheese and grilled onion! We really enjoyed them and were impressed by the original serving choices. I would recommend this and want to point out they have a large menu to select from. The only negative was the very used bathrooms, but hey at the beach at least they had some.

Great fast and yummy breakfast spot by the beach! Pancakes are a must here and the service is always so friendly and fast

Food and service was great, the restaurant is really dirty. The menus, condiments etc need to be thoroughly cleaned. Everything was sticky and really grimy. Again, service and food was great but it felt so dirty. It's also very loud if your sensitive to that.

Stopped in with my brother to check it out, he just moved to OB recently and has been telling me about this spot so we tried it out. Let me start off with service, plain and simple they are great, fast, efficient, and friendly. I tried a few different items to provide a better review. Coffee pots are getting brewed fresh continuously, I counted 5 pots in the 30 min span we sat at the counter so I had to try a cup for myself so I tried a cup of straight black mud and it was a great cup of coffee, didn't need to add anything to it. Over all I will be accepting my brothers invite to breakfast as long as we go back to this spot more often.

Lived in ob almost 3 years and want to try all the places . This was a GREAT spot for a locals breakfast . Packed but seat yourself . I was able to take the corner spot at bar and had coffee before I sat down. Families, friends and singles. Can tell this is the place for a relaxing breakfast. Normal pricing. Had the chorizo and eggs and it was perfect. Heaping side of refried beans and a fresh tortilla. Never felt like I was being ignored. Coffee was filled promptly, dishes taken away when I was done. I'll be coming back

The waffles and chicken was my favorite. I highly recommend this spot if you are in OB and looking for a good old fashioned breakfast.

I really want to get this place 3 1/2 stars. It's better than three stars but not as good as a four-star place. The staff is so friendly and excellent they really deserve five stars. The cleanliness inside is about three stars. It could use some sprucing up. The food is very good for a greasy spoon diner. No complaints. If you like a divey atmosphere this place is for you. I had a biscuit and gravy and it was very good. My husband had an omelette and he said it was delicious. If you're in the area please give this place a try

On vacation in Ocean Beach and just wanted a regular diner breakfast. This place was PERFECT!! I got a classic breakfast and my husband got a Mexican scramble with a beans on the side! And to our pleasant surprise, they had mimosas! The coffee was classically delicious! The food was so good! It was just what we needed! Highly recommend!!

Don't hesitate. I don't like everyone's cooking. Especially since my parents are from the south and they know how to cook. But this RIGHT HERE is amazing. The chicken and waffles were way over what I expected. The service was great we well. SUPPORT YOUR SMALL LOCAL BUSINESS, especially THIS eatery. Also try the Adult Chocolate Milk, (gets your morning nice forsure). If I am ever in the area again I will 100000% be coming back. Thank you Staff.

Disgusting! First off, I can't believe I paid almost $20 for the tiniest, poorly put together breakfast sandwhich, but to make matters worse, it was absolutely disgusting! The cheese tasted processed and powdery, the bacon was dripping in grease, and the eggs tasted old. Did I mention the bread was tiny??? I buy sourdough bread from the grocery store all the time, and I couldn't believe how small their pieces were. Beyond that, the sandwich was just plain nasty though and I believe I was over charged!

Delicious breakfast spot In ocean beach! They had outside seating under a tent during memorial day weekend which was nice. I got the sausage breakfast burrito which was delicious! Nice crispy tortilla filled with eggs, cheese and sausage. Pretty big sauce and their salsa was yum! Others in my party had omelets and they were all pleased w/ their meals. Pet friendly outdoors. Our waitress was fun and attentive. Group of 4 split a bottle for the mimosas. Great food and fun relaxing place to hang with friends. Will definitely be back.

Some of the most rude service I've experienced in a long time. As soon as we asked for the check they cleared our food off the table. Not even waiting for us to finish. Wait time was ridiculous and they were blasting music so loud I could barely hold a conversation. Food really left me unsatisfied. It was just so dull. Honestly I think the only reason people go there is because they have a cool location right by the beach. Would put 0 stars.

The service was good! The food lacked heart. My girlfriend says the waffle was the worst she's ever had. Flat and flavorless. My hash browns and gyro meat were dry and overcooked. I did like the idea of the gyro omelette - points for creativity.

Enjoyed a tasty breakfast in San Diego with eggs and bacon. The coffee was great, and the service was top-notch. A satisfying morning meal! Definitely come if you are visiting!

I really like the waffles here. They are super delicious. Crispy, soft, flavorful, perfect vehicles for the butter and syrup. I liked the rest of the food as well, but the chicken i got with the waffle was undercooked. It was totally cold and purple inside which ruined my appetite for the chicken and i ended up just eating the waffle on its own. My rating reflects how good their waffles are and that the rest of their diner food is good as well. Service here is also excellent. Every wait staff Ive encountered has been super friendly and professional. This is a perfect spot to go for breakfast/brunch if you're in Ocean Beach!

We had an excellent, fast, delish breakfast here last week. Will def recommend: omelettes, pancakes, eggs Benedict's... the coffee was a bit chickory tasting - but we did not expect gourmet anyways. Server was a lady with brown hair and a wonderful smile and attitude! Thanks!

It's insanely busy. I don't think any day it is. There aren't more than 25 booths and 10 chairs. You seat yourself, more like, you wait until someone gets up and take their seat. We weren't greated whatsoever, granted they were busy, but the only time we had service was when we sat down to order. I ordered the Biscuit Townhouse and my sister ordered The Townhouse Special. Biscuit Townhouse includes 2 biscuits, 3 eggs, choice of 2 sausage or bacon. My biscuits, more like biscuit arrived and it was 1 cut in half with gravy. It make your mouth water. It was average. My eggs were done well, hash browns and sausage. It was disappointing because I ordered the biscuits because it was made to be great, but they were mediocre. I wouldn't order again here. The decor made me laugh which is why I give it a 3 and not 2.

Love this place. Fantastic diner food, friendly staff, fast service. We live close and on a hungover Sunday their biscuits and gravy hit the spot. On weekends it's hard to sit a big party but with just two we can usually slide up to the counter.

Awesome friendly service. Fair prices for Ocean Beach. Walked right in and sat right down without being harassed for a mask.

Eating here since 1985. Raised two boys on pancakes and chicken fried steak. Always firendly service and consistent food quality. Chill beach diner that I would higly recommend to anyone. Old skool OB!

DISGUSTING BATHROOM, food was okay, EXPENSIVE prices, TERRIBLE slow service, and, to top it off, the inside of my French toast was raw runny egg. And it was quite BLAH cFrench toast. Why does this place have such high ratings?!?

This restaurant is an hour in a half drive from our home. We will make that drive for the coffee and the huevos rancheros - with the best fresh flour tortillas ever! Pancakes...good! Eggs benedict...gooood! It's all gooooood!! The vibe of this place reminds me of everything that's right with the world; it smells like the ocean, coffee and a hint of patchouli...and I swear to God, I will lose it if this place changes ONE bit. We even drove here after we heard some dick walked out on his bill and we made sure we tipped the waitress for both our meal and the meal she got stiffed on. Because that's what you do. This is OB. Sometimes it ain't pretty, but it's perfect.

As a repeat patron of The Old Townhouse, I thought it was time to leave this place the review it deserves. I read some recent reviews of this place that were obviously written by uppity pretentious out-of-towners who clearly had no empathy or moral compass before voicing their thoughts on a locally owned business trying to stay afloat during COVID. Ignore those reviews. Mine is accurate. This breakfast restaurant never disappoints. The staff--even when the place is packed--is beyond friendly and attentive. If you drink coffee, they are constantly coming around to refill; at least once the wait staff will drop by to make sure everything you've received is good. I say this based on 15+ visits over several years. Nothing on the menu has ever disappointed--from omelets to French toast to chicken fried steak to sandwiches--- trust me when I say between my husband, my friends and I, we have sampled the majority of this menu. I am one of "those people" who will often substitute items for something else (sorry, staff!) and it is has never once been overlooked or forgotten, which is more I can say for many places I've patronized. If you want an amazing breakfast full of staples that taste like something your mom or grandma would make you, go here. In a world full of avocado toasts, or "trending innovative takes on the classics," The Old Townhouse is where you should go if you simply want a delicious breakfast; not a syrup fountain that accompanies your wheat-free, almond milk, Vanilla swirl strawberry banana Hershey Kiss flavored pancakes. Lastly, after an 11 month deployment, the first place my husband wanted to eat breakfast at upon his return was here. It's THAT good.

We got takeout for breakfast...my grandsons pancakes were burnt, pretty much inedible. When a 10 year old says his pancakes are awful, that's saying something. I got the Machaca. This is supposed to be shredded beef moxies with egg and veggies, there was three pieces of stringy meat in the eggs. At least the beans and salsa were decent. Overall feel like I wasted $20. We will be eating lunch early today.

We went to this restaurant around noon to have breakfast. We waited for a table to clear, when 3 tables cleared and were cleaned we were finally seated with a point to the table. We sat down and waited. The 2 other tables were seated 3 minutes after us. They got their drinks and orders before us, but we weren't too concerned because it we were waiting patiently. It's not Until the food came out that we decided to go to the restaurant next door (which is bomb!! Margaritas is better than old town!). Once we got up and went to the other restaurant the waitress tried to stop us but we didn't want to stop. Like we didn't have any drinks or orders in! We got in the other restaurant when the waitress ran inside stating she was about to come to us. Like girl the other two tables that came in after us, are eating already and we didn't even get an order in! She asked us to come back (like begging for our business) and we refused. Don't go there they don't have any customer service experience and that's so sad. Also the waitress wasn't wearing a mask! Beware!!! Update: Ted, first off we know the pandemic has hurt all businesses, but does that mean I wouldn't write an honest review? Your waitress was without a mask outside and didn't rush to help us. We were walking away when we crossed her path while she was cleaning a table. We were very patient and waiting to get our orders in but that obviously was not happening. (Until you guys noticed we were leaving). And I would say beg is the right word since she went to a neighboring restaurant to get us to come back... we already spoke to her when our paths crossed. Also, when you seat guest you take their drinks or at least remember who sat first.... the other two tables got THEIR FOOD and we didn't get a chance to order. That's not understaff that Miscommunication on your part. You should get the orders as the tables come in.... you were the one who sat us on the far table, and it's not our job to alert the manager, we were hungry and the waitress saw us and made eye contact and never came over.... so we took that as a sign that we are not welcome....Second calling your customers entitled is pretty low. We are just stating the truth which doesn't make us entitled.

Great food but service was subpar. Our waitress was knowledgeable but not friendly. Quick service