Tobeys 19th Hole Restaurant

No complaints! This is obviously meant to be a golf restaurant and bar, but open to anyone! We stopped for brunch on a walk and had a great time. A bucket of beer and two eggs breakfast plate and it was great! The view is 100% worth the stop!

Toby’s built in 1934 and still family owned is of my favorite places to eat at in San Diego. It is located at Balboa Municipal golf courses. The staff make it a very pleasant experience with great food and prices. I’ve had breakfast and lunch there since I was a member of the men’s club in the 70’s , yes I’m a BOOMER. I usually order the Salisbury steak for lunch that comes with potato salad or fries, again reasonably priced. The breakfast is all good with a large selection of dishes. My favorite thing eating there is the view windows inside and the outside patio area is nice. You have a perfect view to watch the first hole and the 18 hole players. I be remiss to forget to mention the unbelievable view of the downtown buildings and the harbor. When you are done you can walk outside where there is a nice fast putting green so bring your putter and a ball, chipping area also. Cheers!

Tobey’s is not only a historic landmark, started almost 100 years ago, but it also holds all that is right and good about golf course libations. You can enjoy everything from an affordable draft beer ($9 for 25oz), an ice cream sundae, or a delicious chicken fried steak - all while taking in a beautiful view of the downtown skyline and the 18th hole. Their French fries alone are deserving of a return visit. Every time I play Balboa, I will make an effort to sit and enjoy a moment at Tobey’s and so should you. The locals Torrey Pine’s.

We hit Tobey’s after a round of golf and it was great. We had beers and margaritas on the patio overlooking the course. The view from the patio is amazing. The building is old and not fancy but it s clean. The service was perfect and friendly. I highly recommend going there for food or drinks.

Really great experience, Natalie is one of the nicest and welcoming waitresses I've had in San Diego in a long time. Nothing was too big to ask her and she did everything with a smile. The views are great and the food is awesome. Will be back!

Came here on a windy Sunday with some sunlight and decided to sit on the patio. The staff is really nice and the food comes in good time but the food isn’t particularly special given the price point. I got one of the omelettes with the potatoes and it was pretty good just not unique. The potatoes were nice and crispy and went well with the peppers and onions and they serve it with toast and Smuckers jam as well. The omelette was well cooked and filled with a good amount of vegetables and you can ask for hot sauce which seems to be house made(!) The view is super nice though, and the trees and plants everywhere make it a really cozy and pretty atmosphere.

I went on July 15, 2025 with my family. We was extremely impressed with the service and hospitality by the restaurant employees. There was 8 in our party and they checked on us multiple times. The food was hot and delicious. Everyone in our party was happy with the food and hospitality. Thanks again for a great experience much appreciated.

Friendly service and good breakfast/brunch options. The chicken fried steak was delicious along with the gravy. Not salty, just perfect. There is plenty indoor & outdoor seating available. Menu is a little limited on other items, but great selection for breakfast. The building is also a bit dated, but clean overall.

Great service, amazing views and the food does not disappoint! Also, most amazing green salsa - I will be back!

I love Tobey's and come here often, but was pretty disappointed today when I was denied service because I had an outside coffee in hand. Upon being seated, I was informed by a waitress in passing that outside drinks are not permitted. While I understand this policy's impact on the overall bill, I offered to pay for two drinks along with my breakfast to compensate. Unfortunately, my offer was declined, and I had to take my business elsewhere. Bummer.

Clean and a gem with great views!! Came For lunch because they serve LIVER AND ONIONS!!!! My favorite!! Ingrid waited on us with a smile. Okay, so seriously, this place is REALLY GOOD. I'm coming back for my next liver and onions fix!! I even had EXTRA grilled onions left after I finished my liver. That NEVER happens!!! Unusually run out so I have to ration them with each bite. My husband had the ground beef smothered in grilled onions. We both chose their homemade potato salad for our potato option and it was one of the best I've had. And I make a mean potato salad so I'm very picky. Then we got a bread choice and we chose the biscuit. OM Goodness!! Like a dessert and so warm and soft and yummy with butter and honey slathered all over it. We sat looking at the beautiful green lush golf course and downtown San Diego while we ate. And our bill was $50 including tip. This place is da BOMB!!!! And plenty of parking and clean bathrooms. Lots of hiking trails and balboa park right across Florida canyon.

Had very early dental appointments, so we had to skip breakfast. Afterwards, we ended up at Tobey's. Never had a bad meal here. A great place to eat after a round of golf. Been here many times. He often walks the 9. He had the Homemade Corned Beef Hash & Eggs. The corned beef doesn't get any better than this. Not greasy, and not crazy salty... and plenty of it. The over-easy eggs... whites fried perfectly, with a runny yolk for dipping toast. Too many places leave the whites runny, or if they manage to cook them, the yolk is over cooked. I had the Chicken Fried Steak & Eggs. It came with a choice of the O'Brien Potatoes. They are so good. Not overcooked like many places that offer taters other than hash browns. I've rarely had a Chicken Fried Steak that I've loved. Most places, the coating is more like an oven baked breading, or very greasy pan fried breading. Not really like fried chicken. Tobey's coating IS like real fried chicken. Even crunchy to a degree like real fried chicken. It's been a long time since I've had this dish anywhere and it will be one of my breakfast "go-to's" now. Next time we are planning on doing the same two dishes and splitting everything between us. The coffee is the best we've had from a restaurant. We no longer use sugar in our coffee, and we make our own drip coffee at home with organic beans. It's not bitter or acidic. Tobey's coffee is just like that. The service is attentive and pleasant, and the bathrooms are clean. Parking lot at the top can be full when it's busy with golfers. And of course the view of the golf course from the cafe (inside or out) is beautiful. Here we are in mid December and 68°f and mostly sunny. Gorgeous day. We are so blessed.

Must check out if you are golfing or just hanging out at Balboa Park. Great old style American food, great prices, and awesome service! I came with my husband a day prior and it was really good. We tried finding a new place for breakfast the next day, and ended up coming back for more.

Their sandwiches before golf were amazing! Great place for breakfast too. Everything was flavorful especially their liver & onions & I'm picky when it comes to liver & onions. They nailed it! I will come back for more!

Been coming here for YEAAARS definitely a home vibe, food taste great, the waitress dalia is super nice and always on top of it and making sure everyone at the table is happy, overall service is awesome by everyone, and on top of it being a 10/10 restaurant it has a beautiful view of the golf course and downtown sd ! Definitely recommend to everyone !

Food is fresh and quick and the view cannot be beat! Love their pancakes & chicken fried steak!

My girlfriend and Me had Easter breakfast. It was raining but the view was awesome. Eggs, bacon, chicken fried steak, bloody Marie's. All very good. The staff and restaurant were celebrating the vibe. Great place.

recently had the hot dog "special".$12 for a regular hot dog and soda, no sides. A few months ago it was $8.50. This was after the pandemic so can't use that excuse. Feels like price gouging. No more Tobeys for me.

Great old school breakfast on the golf course either inside table outside patio or counter this feels like a bit of history and a hug from the past for classic food.

Who doesn't love a good view, good food and good service? Shoot the girls at Tobey's cafe are on it! So kind so attentive and it's such a cute little spot. Parking, there's two lots on the right side of the golf course. Kid friendly, oh yeah. Clean? Very! The busser's are on it once a party leaves that way it a available. They have both indoor and outdoor seating. Recently they added shade to the outside so I'd highly recommend sitting outside for the view. My son and I are regulars here, we get the pancakes and a side of O'Brien potatoes! Literally the best! You should definitely try them. Fluffiest pancakes and the French toast is so yum! They have mimosas and the girls are always on it for refilling the coffee. This is your old school traditional breakfast spot. Also serves breakfast until closing. So it's ok if you slept in and you want to get breakfast later.

This little spot might be a best kept secret to San Diego except that there seems to always be a line to get a table. So somehow words got out. I've only been in Sunday's for brunch. The staff is always in the weeds but works hard to make your experience a good one. My recommendation is to order whatever corn beef concoction they have on the menu. It's amazing. Everything else is just like every other diner. The facility seems to be original. Maybe historical? Not sure but it's headed that way. Parking on a Sunday is challenging. Lots of golfers. It's quaint and the views of the San Diego skyline are nice.

What a view! Take your visiting family for a good old, slightly overpriced, but this is San Diego, greasy spoon breakfast! Golf if you like, but just sitting on the deck looking down the fairway to downtown is worth a 15 omelette and palate searing diner coffee!!

Once upon a time this was my favorite place to go to once a week for lunch with a view. I have not been since covid hit, so I took my girlfriend to lunch here last week. We ordered burgers and I must say the quality and flavor of the food has gone down hill, big time. The burger patty was almost unidentifiable to the naked eye, and the taste was not good, such a dry burger. The service was the worst that I've ever experienced here. I miss the way it used to be. Sadly I will probably not return after this lackluster visit. It's a shame, my Mom ate here with my grandparents when she was growing up, it looks like this family tradition is coming to an end. I hope it gets better and that I can one day return to what was once a hidden jewel in San Diego.

Legit some of the best American Diner food I've ever tasted . Good portions and very affordable. The views are nice and not loud at all

We would like to say so many nice things about all waitresses at the19 th hole restaurant. They are all very special and it's always a pleasure coming into the restaurant. Today we said hello to Sara and Olivia They are both exceptional waitresses. Our waitress was Brianna. She always delivers outstanding and attentive service. It's a pleasure to see all Waitresses at the Tobeys, 19 th hole Restaurant. Thank you all for your great service

Came on a windy Saturday and as busy as the golf course was Tobey's was pretty dead. This iconic restaurant gives you all the vibes of an old school dinner. From the register stand with candy and bars in it to the counter seating and booths. The service was supreme until the end our waitress disappeared so we had to go up to the register to pay. However, the cashier didn't skip a beat and found our bill in no time at all. In the spirit of March and corn beef I choose the homemade corn beef hash with sunny side up eggs and sourdough bread. We also got the French dip. To our surprise the French dip came with lettuce, tomatoes, sliced pickles all the condiments for a burger which was strange. It also was untraditional as it came with cheese. All in all there was a great meat to bread ration. The dipping sauce was great and everyone was happy. The homemade corn beef hash was a large portion. The hash it self had a lot of flavor and was cooked well but, it was on the salty side. The homemade green salsa had the kick of spice I needed. It's was wonderful salsa and complimented my dish well. It's a shame we didn't sit outside since it was sunny and we live in San Diego. With a few cosmetic updates and a spruce of the menu I can see this restaurant flourish. At the end of the day the food is reliable and the staff is extremely friendly. Customer service goes a long way.

Play golf here Every week Service is good View is GREAT if you get to @ The 2 tables. Loved the Homemade Soups with Sandwiches. But seems no more Soups our crew was quite bummed maybe it will come back SOON‍

Like everyone else starts off by saying, the views are great and even better on a clear day. This was my first time here and I was invited here from coworkers for my birthday, very home-cooked style food, I ordered the patty melt and it was great. The rye bread was delicious and the onion rings were decent. Would definitely go back mainly for the views and maybe a drink next time!

This place use to be the cheapest and best breakfast in town. Now it's still great and the view!! The view. The best kept secret in San Diego for sure!!

One star for views and one star for food being pretty good. Really really bad service when we went. The servers ignored us until one finally took our order after sitting for 25 minutes. Came back out 10 min later and said the kitchen was understaffed and it would be ANOTHER 45 minutes for our food... what?? Then, two tables who sat down 20 minutes after us got there food at least 10 minutes before us. They comped our coffees for the inconvenience but it was a mess. Felt bad for our sever as she was frazzled but the service was unacceptable. Bad first impression.

Tobey's made me a good breakfast in the form of a breakfast burrito for $9. You can choose your protein. I went with ham but no cheese in this burrito. Therefore it came with eggs, ham, and Potatoes O'Brien. I found it interesting and quite quite humorous that they serve their house made salsa in a old sugar glass dispenser. The burrito was good. I liked the chopped cubes of quality savory ham, but I was not particularly fond of the chopped potatoes. The peppers and onions that came with them yes, but not the potatoes. The potatoes were inconsistent. Some of them were tender and some still had a bit to them. Also, I thought some of the pieces were a little large to be in a burrito, so hunt and pecked them out. The eggs well scrambled and seasoned. The giant flour tortillas was good quality and that house made salsa was not to shabby. It provided good flavor and a good medium lingering heat. I ate at the old school counter and the ladies were down to earth friendly. Good service.

Nothing's better than grabbing a breakfast or brunch after a nice round (or half round) of golf at Balboa Park... But when it's at a place with equally as delightful food and service, then that might be as close to a match in Heaven as you'll get. I've eaten here 3-4 times during COVID, and my most recent was this past Sunday. When the weather's nice, dining on the outdoor patio is about as good as it gets! You get to see the foursomes teeing off on Hole 1, while also watching groups hitting into Hole 18 as they finish their round. It's a great view with sometimes a gentle breeze. Tables are spaced out far enough to meet COVID safety guidelines. There are some tables spaced adequately apart inside as well with a few TV's to watch the Golf Channel, or football. Our table of four had 2 orders of cheeseburgers, a bacon cheeseburger, and French toast. All were reasonably priced, served hot, brought out in good time, and they have fresh brewed iced tea, not to mention a decent beer list. I've personally never had bad service here, and there's really no bad thing to report. We sat inside when we would've preferred an outside table, but they were all taken, and we didn't want to wait the unnecessary time for a patio table to become available. They take credit cards (yes, even AMEX cards)! I won't be able to play golf here without eating at Tobey's 19th Hole immediately afterwards. It's almost like you can't do one without the other. Very good spot to eat! Glad they have it here... I look forward to returning back again!

Greatest views and chicken fried steaks, highly recommend early morning with their 6 AM start time for the kitchen

An amazing location with views over the gold course and downtown. Really good comfort food at a very fair price. A little secret place that i

Clutch location- particularly if you sit outside, a view of the airplanes overhead, the gold course, san diego sky line... Point Loma even. It's greasy spoon type of diner fare, but this place has been around for awhile-- which adds to its charm.

I had a tasty chicken fried steak & eggs breakfast out on their patio, early on a Monday morning. The gravy was good, the hash brown crispy and the eggs done to order. They also provided a container of of medium hot salsa that was appreciated. The service was friendly and efficient. It was, however, pretty pricey. I would be interested in trying their corned beef hash sometime.

Went for breakfast this morning we ordered omelets and they were tasteless. Service was slow and made several mistakes with our order.

I love Tobey's. It's super close to my house and I've been going here with friends and family for at least 5 years. Management and staff are friendly and accommodating. The view is priceless, food tasty, and mimosas are just what my weekend needed. Can be crowded with waves of locals and golfers, but I have never waited for a table- unless you want a table outside you may need to wait for one to open up. Nice airplane watching. Give yourself a few minutes to park. TVs inside for the sports fan. 5s across the board for my favorite breakfast place in San Diego.

Approaching the Balboa Park Golf Course Clubhouse for the first time, I was pretty struck by how it's lack of glamor, even by municipal golf course standards. The building houses the Por Shop, which is the most sparse I have ever seen on any golf course, a common area with sweet old City Trophies going back to the day, and then there's the restaurant: Tobey's. Who knew this would shape up to be one of the better 19th Holes I've come across? When you walk in, you are greeted by a long counter to one side and then the dining area opens up to the right. You'll notice immediately that the windows overlook the course (#1 and #18) and since you are at a substantial elevation the views back to Downtown San Diego are killer. However, you must make a visit to the deck, because this is one of the best spots to sit with a pitcher of beer you'll find. I didn't try the food, but it seems like pretty classic breakfast food. I can't speak to lunch. My Dad grabbed a Egg Sandwich on an English Muffin before we played and he thought it was fine - basic for like $5. They do have beer on tap. They also have a really good selection of cans of beer, with a bunch of local San Diego IPA's. If you're looking to have a beer, or a few on the course, this is also where you grab them. If you buy 5, you get the 6th free and they'll set you up proactively with a bag of ice. And, Balboa has a fun vibe, so a few beers along the way is not a bad idea.

Our breakfast and Blt sandwich were good but our waitress was fantastic. Very attentive. Thanks for the great service. We are going back for breakfast again before we leave.

Came here to try their homemade corned beef hash, i was pretty excited because some people rave about it and its made in house corned beef not the stuff out of a can. It's a pretty neat location over looks the golf course at Balboa Park, so it has nice view and was not crowded. I ordered the corned beef hash with over medium eggs. I like when corned beef hash is nice and crispy, but unfortunately mine was burnt. Theres a difference between crispy and burnt, crispy has a nice crunch and still has its normal flavor, burnt just taste like eating charcoal. The corned beef may have been homemade but i think the hash part is just the frozen hash browns that any chain greasy spoon gets. So i was a bit let down, because i love corned beef hash and this one was just burnt. Admittedly i should have sent it back, but I'm just not in the habit of doing that, but this should have been the time that i did. I may give it another shot later, but for now there are so many other places that have homemade corned beef hash.

We went with a large group. Seating right away. Umbrella to shade the sun and a very good view. The food was very quick coming from the kitchen. There just was one little problem and that was the waitress didn't come to our table very often but we were out on the patio in the far corner so it would've been a little bit of a walk but not much. The waitress was very friendly and the food was very good. The prices on the food were average. I highly recommend this place to eat.

Great food and even better location with view. I took some customers here before our round of golf. We had a awesome shaded table on the back patio overlooking the 1st and 18th hole below. It was just perfect. The staff was very nice and I overheard has been here for many years. We enjoyed our lunch so much that we came back for a second time the next day.

Old school vibes and a great view. This is definitely a greasy spoon and very causal. Everyone is really nice. The team is a bit disorganized but I think it's because they're short staffed. Highly recommend checking out one of these San Diego staples.

I had breakfast here overlooking the golf course and it was just what we were looking for. The food is diner style and was prepared perfectly. The waitress was understanding that we were in a bit of a rush and attentive without being annoying. It's a great choice if you're golfing in the area and want a delicious meal without driving anywhere!

I still love Tobey's for an easy going start to the day. Everything about 'em is easy. Parking...easy. Free, open, space right in front. Breakfast options...easy. Give me crispy tots, medium rare steak and over medium eggs. Bloody mary...easy. Simple and nothing complicated. Coffee..easy. Black drip. Service is laid back. They'll come by on occasion but for the most part leave you alone. Lastly, patio dining...easy. Kick back, relax and enjoy that spectacular view! *pics attached* P.s. in case you didn't read my tip or original review...GREEN SAUCE!! easy..just ask for it.

Old school 19th hole and it's amazing!! If you miss the way breakfast out used to be, then come to Tobey's. The pancakes were the size of dinner plates, the bacon was about a foot long (and a side is 4 pieces), the eggs were great, and ask for the green salsa, it's some of the best around! Plus the greatest waitress you will ever have.

The older Hispanic lady is soooo sweet and was so accommodating she went above and beyond for us and we really appreciated her. My mom is also very picky and she really enjoyed the food Also, the salsa is so good you need to try with breakfast eggs. Will keep coming back here :)

I came here with a friend for a nice brunch and the scenery was pretty. We sat outside facing the golf course, which was pretty. I have the scrambled eggs, bacon and pancakes. The bacon was crispy just how I love my bacon! It was a nice chill atmosphere and not too busy, which is nice.

Had an amazing time here and will be coming back!My server Bridget was the best, she made sure we had everything we needed and was really friendly!

A quaint little diner located in the entrance to the golf course. They offer a wide variety menu options that will entice even the pickiest of eaters. The service is amazing and makes you feel like you are being served by mom. The prices are reasonable. The best thing about this place is the view. You get an unobstructed view of downtown San Diego. Awesome!

Plenty of parking and an awesome view of the golf course and of lovely San Diego. The prices are very reasonable with good ol' American food on the menu. The staff is super friendly and attentive. I definitely recommend coming here for a nice afternoon.

Just plain classic, like the Saturday Evening Post. I mean where else can two people eat a full meal for under $20? The 19th Hole is the epitome of, "hidden in plain sight". A tiny diner, tucked away on the Balboa Golf Course, which if you have lived in San Diego for a decent amount of time you most likely have driven past the lush green area on your way to some new flash-in-the-pan restaurant in North Park. The name, The 19th Hole is merely a locator for this place, but Tobey's is the true name of this quaint little diner. When you first walk-in your immediate reaction is to sit at the counter, no no my friend. Creep around the corner and feast your eyes on one of the best views for a food spot in San Diego. Not only do you get neverending fields of greenery, an amazing view of downtown, but on a clear day the ocean splits the space between the land and the ozone. I sat outside, duh, and was feeling nostalgic. The vibe of a restaurant that had opened in 1934 put me in the mood for a hearty breakfast. I opened the two page menu and ordered the french toast b-fast with two eggs, two sausage, and four slices of tasty french toast. The food was ok, pretty much what I expected from a place like this. Very filling with no bells and whistles, just a good old fashioned breakfast. All that with two cups of coffee I think our entire meal was under $20. I did however fall in love twice... The green salsa they serve is amazing and I almost took a pull straight from the bottle, and the servers are super sweet and sassy. It's like grandma's crazy friends are working here. If you're visiting San Diego this is a great place to hang with the locals and enjoy the view. If you live in SD, what are you waiting for? EAT! PRO TIP: This is a cash only establishment, but there is an ATM inside the dining area.

When one wakes up on a beautiful Sunday morning in San Diego (and the rest of the nation is either in a deep freeze or drowning in inches of rain), well, where else will one go for breakfast other than Tobey's, where the food is great and the view is downright breathtaking? We always order the same thing - it's a bit like a broken record. "Corned beef hash, eggs over medium and whole wheat toast. Coffee, please." Everything is perfection itself (homemade corned beef, studded with potatoes and onions, and everything proportioned perfectly). The eggs, cooked just right. Whites are all firm, yolks runny so the toast can get dipped. Their only drawback is so-so coffee, kind of weak and served in very small mugs, which is the reason for 4 instead of 5 stars. And did I mention the view? OMG. There is no finer view, bar none, at any restaurant in San Diego. Coastal, mountain, sun, snow...we have it all, but the view from Tobey's overlooking the golf course with the city skyline dazzling in the background, set off by the shimmering Pacific Ocean; it just can't get any better. And every few minutes, to cap it all off, we can watch a plane come in for landing at the SD airport, just a couple of miles from the golf course! I'm almost afraid to post my picture; afraid the place will get inundated with people and the secret will get out. Then again, the place was packed today when we left...business is obviously good. This is the old-fashioned diner, no fancy decorating, plain tables and simple silverware, but the food is really what it's all about (and the view!)

Ate lunch here after hitting some balls at the range. Love the views from Toby's. I had a egg sandwich. Nothing fancy but it was simple and delicious. Customer service was great. Has a old school diner feel to it.

The food was good, the views were exceptional !!!!

If I could I would be giving this place 0 start awful service They gave me a table sat there for an hr without no one even offering water or anything... never going back , I just got up and left.

It is a bit funny to me that Tobey's 19th Hole only has 16 reviews because it isn't really a secret spot. It is tucked away and not advertised but still pretty easy to find. Approach with an open mind and don't have high expectations. For me the 19th Hole is an average greasy spoon. The food is cheap and they don't stray very far from a typical diner menu. Eggs and bacon, they have it. Steak and eggs, they have it. Pancakes, they have it. Burgers, they have it. Chilli, they have it. Like I said, nothing out of the ordinary and exactly as you expect with an affordable price tag. I jumped into the corned beef hash and a pitcher of Budweiser. Super tasty, homemade and cooked just right. It had a bit of a crunch to it and was served with a sassy smile from Renda, our waitress. The pitcher of beer was small but only $8.00... can't beat it. This review would not be complete without a mention of the view. It's is fantastic! Over looking the fairway and the SD skyline it is one of the best in town. Next time you are in the Golden Hill or South Park area swing by to kick your hangover with a quick greasy breakfast.