Swami's Cafe Vista

Was expecting better quality from one of “Swami’s favorites.” We ordered the Indian curry with tofu and it tasted like steamed vegetables atop canned pumpkin purée. That said, the portion was large, it came quickly, and service was friendly.

Solid 2ish? Food comes quickly. The veggie hash was large but mostly potato and I didn’t love all of the sun dried tomatoes as the flavor was sharp. Bloody Mary wasn’t good or strong. Had an old mushy cucumber on it. Prices are really expensive. 16$+ for two eggs and some veggies seems outrageous but maybe not anymore 😅. The interior is very “fend for yourself” but it’s clean. We asked for a burger medium rare but it was super rare. They forgot avocado on one dish, but staff were nice. Idk I think there are much better options for cheaper.

Always the friendliest staff. A great place for my friends and I to meet up every week. They take extra care to make my coffee just right!

This is by far one of the best places to go for breakfast and lunch in Downtown Vista. The prices are near unbeatable for the food you get both in portion and quality. The staff is amazing 100% of the time. My family has Sunday lunch here 2 times a month on average. Yes that’s on average, and we will go weeks without eating here sometimes.

King was such a great help! He had the best customer service and made sure everything was taken care of for us when we were in a rush to get out on time. We came in on our break for work and he helped us get our food and get out in a timely manner. Give this man a raise!!!

First time here, and I liked it. You get there, order, pay, and find a table for yourself. Plenty of space and food to choose; the only complaint I have is that I had to remind two guys about our my beverages (ice cream smoothies), they totally forgot.

Artichoke chicken sausage omelet and the Gluten free berry Bliss with Pitaya smoothie was delicious. Pumpkin Dulce de Leche latte was delicious!

I often opt to go to local Swamis for breakfast. Reliably consistent good food and service regardless of location. If you want food with amazing flavor, this is your place. Flavor explosion on every single item we ordered. If you eat with your eyes first, this is your place. Pretty food is important for a good experience. I can't imagine an occasion where swamis wouldn't be the answer.

Dropped in with some friends shortly after arriving in San Diego, and this place was recommended to start off my trip. I went with the lobster omelette, and it was delicious - rich and satisfying! The staff was friendly, the vibe was relaxed, and it's got a self-serve drink station for easy refills. Nothing fancy, but it does the job. I wouldn't rush back here, but if I am in the area, I would come back.

solid breakfast/brunch spot! usually pretty busy but have always been able to walk up and get seated quickly. you order at the counter and pay, then find a seat. staff is always friendly and smiling, the cafe decor is okay and the outdoor area leaves a lot to be desired. the kids pancake is so cute! the açaí bowl was great but granola was frozen and bee pollen was interesting. otherwise excellent service + tasty pancake/bowl!

First time at the vista location and incredibly disappointed. From the moment we arrived, the restaurant felt unclean the floors were noticeably dirty, and the coffee and beverage area looked poorly maintained. When we attempted to get hot water for tea, yellow water with black particles came out of the machine, which was both unsettling and unacceptable. (Picture for reference) The service also left much to be desired. I ordered a kids French toast (which was just a single slice with a fruit smiley face), half order pitaya bowl, and a Mexican mocha and was charged $34. The mocha was not enjoyable at all. The only items that were somewhat redeeming were the pitaya bowl and the French toast, but even those couldn't make up for the experience. What's even more frustrating is that I've since read past reviews mentioning how dirty this location is and clearly, no effort has been made to address those concerns.

We visited here for lunch after going to the Alta Vista Botanical Gardens down the street. Daughter found it while searching on her iPhone. We were pleasantly surprised at the number of menu choices. Especially for breakfast. One of my favorite meals of the day. I ordered the blackberry banana pancakes with scrambled eggs and sausage. Daughter ordered the stuffed French toast. Everything tasted wonderful. Fresh ingredients, cooked just right with lovely seasoning and spices. The staff is very friendly and helpful. You order at the front counter upon entering. Then they deliver the food to your table when it's ready. Seating is plentiful, with inside or outside choices. We will definitely return to try out more menu items! Note the hours as they close early: Monday - Sunday: 7:00 am - 3:00 pm

We stopped at Swami's for brunch today, mainly because our go to spot is closed on Wednesday. The food was solid but not a wow experience. The salsa and potatoes both needed some seasoning. The chilaquiles sauce didn't have any protein - I am used to (and prefer!) chilaquiles having chicken or carne asada or chorizo in the sauce. Black beans - also OK but just a bit on the bland side. At Swamis you order at the register and they bring your food to the table. Everything else is self serve - beverages, condiments, all that. The staff were pleasant so no issues there. I was surprised that the tip options on the POS device started at 18% and went up from there. That's a bit sporty IMO for a place that's mostly self serve. Ambiance was nice, we sat on the patio. It was getting warm already (April!) so I bet it will be toasty out there by May or June. So I ended up with 3 stars. It was OK, nothing wrong but some room for improvement.

Lots of parking is available behind the restaurant and opposite the restaurant. Opposite the restaurant might be more difficult to park as it shares parking lots with a swimming pool and another shopping strip. We have to queue to order. But the food and drinks will be sent to you. Lots of seating available within and outside the restaurant. We sat outside, and they are doggy friendly in the patio. Hubby ordered a turkey croissant, and it was fantastic. He just didn't really finish it as he was sick that day. I ordered a salmon summer salad. And it came with garlic toast. The salmon was grilled beautifully, still moist and succulent on the inside. The summer salad had blueberries, strawberry, tangerine slices, dried cranberries, walnuts, and greens. We love this and will be back!

Excellent high-quality food. There are so many options, including gluten-free items! I was originally a fan of Swamis in Escondido, which prompted me to come here, as this location is right next to my boyfriend's house. It had plentiful seating both indoors and outdoors, and during the summertime, the weather is very beautiful. If you are a fan of crunchy granola hippie food, you'll like this place (just like me lol). You do have to go up to the counter to order and pay, but they bring your order to your table after giving you a little stick with your order number on it. The majority of the food options were vegetarian, with other vegan or gluten-free options available or substitutable. If you like juices, I recommend the iron horse! Or any of their bowls or various shakes.

i've come here like 3 times, each time was excellent! Everything comes out pretty quickly, the staff are very friendly, it's an overall pretty great experience. They have soooo many choices it's almost ridiculous lol. But it's definitely a nice spot to go to! it's pretty big with indoor and outdoor seating, the food is good, drinks are good. give this place a try if you haven't!!

Great food, large menu. Awesome indoor decor, also has outside patio seating. Service was excellent and food even more excellent. It's also a nice short walk to the beach, perfect for a summers day outing.

Outstanding lunch service! We had huge portions of the albacore sandwich with sweet potato fries and the ginger stir fry . Which is enough to feed a small village! Healthy and fresh. Extra special thanks to Chuy for accommodating my gluten free request and a very memorable ice cream scoop to honor mom! Extra special thanks to "King" for accommodating our extra spoon requests, boxes straws and anything we needed so we could focus on our time together! Happy Mothers Day to All Moms. Swamis is the place to be after church or the theatre. Thanks again Swamis!

This place is a staple! Service is always amazing. Food is yummy yummy i had the swamis açaí bowl, it was delicious. You have the option of buying half order or full order. The full order will feed two people. The açaí bowl in the picture is the half order. The ambiance is perfect. Its fresh, open space, nice place for a brunch with your friends. The price range is obtainable, nothing too crazy.

Love this place in Vista, right in the little community with the theater across the street. Large place with lots of tables. You put in your order at the counter and then they bring you the food. The service was pretty good. My vegetarian friends had the acai bowl and the veggie burger. They both looked really good. The acai bowl was huge. I had an everything omelet with veggies and cheese. Well cooked and tasty. Good food, relaxed place, nice place to meet people.

Great restaurant friendly staff. Angel greeted us and made us feel welcome. Definitely recommend this place for breakfast. The peanut butter smoothies were killer

I liked this place. We stopped in for breakfast on a Saturday. It's was a little busy but not too bad. We were able to find a table. The food was good, Bloody Mary was good, and the service was good. I will definitely be back.

Just like any other Swami's, consistently solid food with quality service. Nice laid-back environment. I've never had a bad item from all the times I've been to any Swami's location, this one being no different. I'd always recommend one of their omelettes, so satisfying!

I venture her with my elderly mom after mass once a month. It has been a little longer and we both notice the food was subpar and cold. My mom ordered eggs/bacon, potatoes and it was cold. I ordered avocado toast and the bread tasted old. Service was great. Music could have been lower and more family friendly. I'll hesitate to come back since the cost and poor food quality.

We went to Swami's this morning for brunch. We've been here several times as we enjoy the wide variety of food, outdoor patio seating so we can bring to dog along too, and just a really nice atmosphere overall. We had a pretty eclectic brunch including my chicken Caesar salad; Greek omelette that was shared with my wife and daughter; gluten free açaí pancakes, grilled turkey sandwich with fries and finally got a 1/2 pitaya bowl to share. We really enjoyed everything, it was brought to our table hot and fresh from the kitchen. We got our own coffee and made it the way we like it. All in all, it was a really nice experience. The person who took our order was very friendly and the guy that brought out the food was also very friendly and helpful as he came back and checked on us to make sure we had everything. I think you'll like both the food and atmosphere, give them a try.

Service is minimal but they do give you everything you need when you order. I ordered the abc burger everything on it tasted fresh. It's casual place self seating.

This is a half full mimosa I was served but paid full price for. When questioned, was told it was half full to add juice. No offer to add more. When food arrived, there was a hair in one of the meals. Server said it was not hair but cheese. He questioned the fact that it was clearly a hair and argued, examined the hair and was trying to figure out whose hair it was. It does not matter whose hair it is and should not be argued. Politely apologize and offer to replace. Will not be back.

Service is always great. There manager is always on top of it and checks in with the customers. The food isn't as consistent but that could just be from the breakfast rush. Still always a favorite of mine.

Came here for breakfast and a bloody mary. Food was really good. I had the cornbeef hash. It was real cornbeef, not canned. Service was good. I will come back for sure.

Seating & ordering is weird. As well as the fact that they ask for a tip when you pay for your food before you even know what the service will be like. Kinda awkward in my opinion. Aside from that, food is decent. Nothing really stood out to me. As you would expect any brunch spot to be. Other than that their meals are served very aesthetically, which I liked.

Very friendly staff ! Their Oatmilk Horchata Latte is sooooo good ! My friend had their chilaquiles and I had their authentic Mexican burrito and it was very good! There's no direct parking - you have to park across the street or if you're lucky , on the street adjacent to the building. When u walk in you order first and then take a seat (I prefer seating and then ordering since it gives me time to think for what I want and that's why I gave it 4 stars).

Food was not good at all. Overpriced for what you get, it's a lot but not tasty. So you pay first then you sit yourself and pretty much pay to serve yourself. You also get your drinks and they don't even come to check if you need anything. First and last time, never again!! Pretty much white peoples food. No ambience either, it's like a diner at a truck stop.

Tasty, filling breakfast! Good coffee & tea options as well. Food came out really fast

Food is always tasty! The service is typically quick & it can get loud inside but overall it's a typical brunch place!

Love the service and incredible food thank you so much definitely coming back. Come and enjoy an iced coffee and their breakfast croissant tastes amazing.

Forgot all of our sides for meals including all condiments. The woman over the phone was very monotone and not friendly. Can definitely improve on double checking togo orders before sending them off to customers.

Lots of breakfast options with friendly staff. Restaurant was nice and clean with plenty of seating. I had their farmers scramble and it was very nice. Avocado on top. Came with toast and a side. I got their fruit which was little disappointing as it just had 1 grape and some melons. I was expecting at least some berries. The wheat toast was a little burnt. My wife had the Califormia scramble. It too was nice. Their hash browns were good so recommend this as your side. Her white toast was better toasted.

Came to Swami's after a hike, and was delightfully surprised at how refreshing and tasty their California Spring Chicken Salad is! It has juicy grilled chicken, candied pecans, red onions, tomatoes, cucumbers, lettuce, goat cheese, and comes with two sides of raspberry vinaigrette. I would recommend getting it with the garlic bread, as it is a great addition to the plate. To me the bread tasted like a fresher version of Cheesecake Factory's rye (brown) bread, but garlic! yum! Super crunchy, and they also have a gluten free option for $1.50+. This is my first time coming to Swami's, and the staff there are kind, helpful, and accommodating. We sat outside on the patio, which was nice to have some sun, and some shade for the pup. I ordered the iced oat milk latte to drink, which is a little pricey (Starbucks prices) as they charge extra for non-dairy milk and for shots of flavor (they carry Torani brand including sugar free). Nonetheless, everything was delicious, and I had ordered an extra side of chicken for the pup which was $4.50. The chicken breast itself is juicy, and perfectly cooked. Would highly recommend, and I'll definitely be back when in the area! Thank you!

I normally love Swami's... their food is great but my experience today left me fuming. My daughter placed a phone order for pickup, was told 15-20 minutes, I got there 30 minutes later, paid for it, was told it was almost ready and I could wait at a table for it. Well I sat there for another 20 minutes, nobody checked on me, nobody checked on my daughter's order, I finally got up to find someone to ask what was going on and saw where they keep the door dash orders and there was my daughter's order sitting there- now cold. I grabbed the order and completing the cashier who rang me up and she denied even helping me. I am complaining disappointed with the service I received today

How is this place always so dirty? Every time we go the tables aren't clean, there's food on the ground, you have to ask for them to do their job, it's disgusting.

I really enjoy this Swamis location as there is plenty of seating. I got a Chipotle Chicken wrap and it was ok. I would opt for something else next time.

Cozy breakfast spot with decent food. There are tons of swamis but this always seems to be the least busy location, so go here if you want to avoid a long line! They have two menus: the paper menu is the standard menu, but then look up at the chalkboard menu for the daily specials. On our most recent visit we got the blackberry pancakes and huevos rancheros. Both were super tasty. They even gave me a side of whipped cream when I asked. Appreciate it! Minus one star because one time they closed hours early, unannounced, and kicked me out after I had already bought a smoothie to drink.

Coffee was good. The services was decent, it was a little hot inside of the restaurant. I would not got for Mexican food breakfast, so next time I will get American breakfast,

Went to this Vista location for lunch with my mom and aunt. The food was great but the customer service from the wait staff and the gal at the front desk was anything but friendly. They messed up our order. I asked for yam fries and they put regular fries and my aunt asked the guy nicely to get us the yam fries and he had an attitude like it was an inconvenience. I told my mom I like the customer service at the Escondido location. The management team needs to work with their staff at the Vista location greeting people properly because what I witnessed was rudeness. Plus have some pride with your booths. Saw they were ripped up like someone took a knife and cut through it and needs to be replaced.

Fortunately I came here on a Thursday morning so I got to appreciate this place without being put off by the weekend crowds that they apparently attract. Jesus met us with a smile and patiently waited for my indecisive friend to choose from their quite extensive menu. The in-house barrista and the server were also cheerful and helpful. I got a lobster benedict and my friends ordered a chorizo hash and they were each quite hearty and really tasty meals. They also had some wonderful juices and juice mixtures available. Fret ye not, there's plenty of parking and the prices are affordable. Mark this down as a place to go to and then to come Back to.

So we went to swamis on a Tuesday morning and it wasn't super busy, the person who took our order seemed like he was stoned and completely out of it. Didn't know the menu or how to work the register. Took our order wrong and charged us more than what we should've paid. We went because the food looks AMAZING and it was really put together, but once we got our food and took the first bites it was super bland. We got the Belgian waffles, chocolate and banana pancakes and stuffed french toast. The Belgian waffles were super grainy and had 0 flavor. The pancakes were starchy and not sweet at all. And the French toast as well. The cream cheese and fruit in the middle weren't sweet and it just tasted like nothing. Didn't even taste like cream cheese! So if you want bland, starchy and completely overpriced food ‍ we paid $60 for all of that.

Food was just okay... it came out fast & a little Dry ...great Service ... there were 7 of Us Ladies

Art for a meal! It tasted as good as it looked! I also loved the bee pollen juice - yum! The eggs Benedict on waffles were fantastic and the blueberry and banana pancakes wonderful!

Great breakfast place with some unique options. Lots of dining area and plenty of seating outside. Be prepared. You have to order at the entry and they give you a number. Find a seat and they'll bring your food when it's ready. Several screens playing games, but it's definitely not a sports bar. The food was good and we like the coffee bar. We always get there early before it gets too busy. Overall a very good breakfast option. Lunch looks good too, but we don't usually go to Swamis for lunch. Almost gave a 4 star for this reason, but the one thing I don't like is asking for a tip upon payment, before any service is provided. They bring it your food, which, in my opinion, shouldn't require a full tip (starting at 18%) when paying.

Deserves more than 5 stars! Once a month, I treat my daughter to a pancake breakfast out. Swami's was recommended. I've endured other pancake establishments with disappointment. Alas, Swami's will be our desired destination moving forward. It's a seat yourself restaurant where the patron grabs their own menus and then must order at a countertop. ALL food is brought to your table. My daughter was ecstatic for her kids' pancake shaped like a bear? Mouse? For less than $5, it's a huge pancake. She couldn't finish it. I enjoyed a Swiss, mushroom, and spinach omelet with bfast potatoes. It was yummy. And a cup of Joe (Americano) that is abundant for less than $3. Staff is friendly, welcoming, and swift. As I stated, we will return monthly. This review is for anybody who wishes to hear my opinion...

Soy chorizo and beans with fruit on the side ! Seems like they never have good fruit it's always melon and 2 grapes disappointed .

I love Swami's!! It's great for the weekend! The ambiance is so relaxing and the staff is always nice. BUT THE FOOD... is delicious!! You can't go wrong with any you order from here. When I do come. It's hard for me to pick what I want for breakfast. On this visit, I ordered the chorizo hash with orange juice. SO FRESH AND SAVORY. They have everything here and it's just a great chill place to come and start your morning. For the future, I will come back for Lunch. Never been for lunch.

I have to say, this is my second visit here to this location and again, I was not disappointed food was outstanding and the service was very fast. The establishment is very clean and well kept.

Just nah. I came here yesterday and ordered the BLTA and asked for real bacon and fruit. They brought it out with the turkey bacon and fries, I figured someone else has ordered the same thing and took it back and the person behind the counter snapped at me and told me it didn't matter. Besides the fact that the fries were ice cold and the turkey bacon wasn't even warm, I would NEVER COME BACK HERE based on the customer service alone. This place really needs to be shut down.

Why is there never any salsa for the breakfast fucking Burito's? EVER, and every fucking time? Why is there never any salsa for the breakfast fucking Burito's? EVER, and every fucking time? Why is there never any salsa for the breakfast fucking Burito's? EVER, and every fucking time? Why is there never any salsa for the breakfast fucking Burito's? EVER, and every fucking time? WHY? Even when I ask, THEY SEND FUCKING RANCH! NOT EVEN aNY FUCKING KETCHUP???

$20 for two awful smoothies. No thanks. So disappointing. If you're going to overcharge, it should be delicious. Instead I threw out 2/3rds of it and have a stomach ache

Very disappointed in the way food came out. 30 minutes from the first item to the last, and we had ti walk in 5 different times to ask for food that was ordered.