Caroline’s Seaside Cafe

My favorite brunch place in La Jolla.
BEAUTIFUL location, super affordable (especially for UCSD students who get 30% off), and delicious food!
I would say the negatives are:
— parking, especially in the summer
— the line. although I always get it to-​go which is way faster because they usually have a separate line for to go orders and eat it on the beach which is pretty much the same as eating it on the patio except sand sometimes gets in your food if someone walks too close to your food
— the lack of variety in breakfast foods. they don’t have waffles/​french toasts or omelettes/​benedicts.
I pretty much always get the pesto chicken sandwich or a burger. The chicken is super juicy, toasty, and delicious! You will not be disappointed.

The lines at the place are consistently long on weekends, so here’s a tip: call in your order ahead of time, then pick it up when you arrive.
(Some people actually call and order while waiting in line, and depending on the wait it might be prepared before they reach the register!)
I’ve done this a few times while driving to the restaurant. Then we either sit on the deck if a table opens up, or take the food up the hill to a quiet, cooler vantage point away from the crowded patio. (Pack a thermos for coffee to go)
Food update: they discontinued the butternut squash panini, at least on the weekends. Wish they would offer at least one vegan option for weekend diners.

Great place for brunch! the location is amazing because it’s right on the beach, and I love the architecture of the place. I ordered banana pancakes and an almond milk latte and they were great. Good pricing for the portions and quality.

I absolutely love this place! If you like having brunch by the ocean, then this is the place for you!
They serve breakfast/​lunch and only open till 3:00! They also serve mimosas, bloody merry, beer and wine.
The service is fast and the servers are friendly!

When I first came here for brunch a year ago, I was not impressed with their food menu. But I recently gave it another shot (my friend re-​recommended it to me) and noticed they expanded their food menu by quite a lot!
My friends and I went on Mothers’ Day, so it was packed as can be expected but street parking was abundant. We waited in line for about 40 minutes, but once we got to the front, we were able to quickly order and find an open table (self-​seating). It’s always convenient to be able to pay separately especially for a large group of friends.
I ordered the garden scramble with potatoes which was delicious, plus refillable iced coffee (they also do free refills on tea, hot coffee, and soda)
The view is spectacular, you get a nice panoramic of everything San Diego (scripps pier, palm trees, ocean views, downtown la jolla) — all without breaking the bank, as all foods are moderately priced.

One of my favorite places to go for breakfast/​brunch. Besides the fact that this place has significant meaning to me, the food is delicious (I’ve never had breakfast potatoes that I’ve enjoyed so much) and the view is breathtaking! Right by the beach. Definitely worth coming by if you’re ever in San Diego! A fantastic place to catch up with a friend or a morning date with someone special :) also the coffee is unlimited so Id say get a cup of that as well
Another thing to note is that UCSD students get 30% off if they present their school IDs ^^

After a hike this is the place to go to grab brunch — it is only open until 3 just heads up!
The line was out the door and there was hardly any seats available but I was willing to give this place a shot solely based on the view you get. I repeat… the view is TO DIE FOR. It does not get better then this.
So you get in line, look at a menu and order when you get to the cashier and you get a number and put it on your table. It is nice because its quick and no need to be bothered by a server. We waited in line for about 20 minutes (yes it was busy). We ordered and had to stand around until something opened. I think that is the only bad part — there is not enough seating! However we got a great spot once it opened.
We both ordered egg breakfast options — I got the special for $ 15. I think the prices are a little high for something that is not a sit down restaurant… so I think you are literally paying for the view. We loved our food and once we were done the busser came by and grabbed our dirty plates.
The menu has good options and they also have baked goods — cake, muffins, cookies for sale.
CON — restroom is (1) unisex and gets so backed up.

Views, views, views… This is what this place is all about. Beautifully nestled in the heart of La Jolla and Scripps facing the Pier and La Jolla Shores, perfect to enjoy the southern California vibe. Best time would be to go for breakfast/​lunch. The have good selection of drinks and coffees. I got their mimosa and it was huge. The coffees are fantastic as well. The food is not so great especially for lunch — its the usual selection of salads and sandwiches. They have specials everyday which are good. Lunch times can be busy during weekdays because of proximity to USCD campus. Parking is only for the USCD people, but there should be enough parking space on the street outside.
All in all, they have free wifi as well, so a good place to catch up on some e-​mails, have coffee and enjoy the pacific ocean.

A great place right on the cliff facing the beach. Delicious and reasonably priced food, free wifi, and a great place to study as well. The lines are a bit long, but well worth the wait.

When you get to Caroline’s, you get in line to order and it’s a pretty long wait during busy times. There tons of signs stating not to sit down unless you’ve placed an order (you get a stick with a number). Seating is iffy after you do place the order — beautiful but incredibly windy on the patio and the few tables inside you have glass but the sea spray keeps it murky to see through. Food is very good and staff is friendly. The whole order/​wait process was a bit much, so that was the downfall for me — an hour from when I got there to food. The short rib hash was very good; loved the rosemary potatoes.

This place has an amazing view and some delicious food for the people of La Jolla. Located near Birch Aquarium and the UCSD campus, Caroline’s is literally right on the beach side near La Jolla Shores. On super amazing and clear days, you can watch the surfers, kayakers, and snorkelers in the water.
I came here yesterday with my friends from Birch Aquarium. We placed our order, and as we were heading out, we noticed the place wasn’t busy at all, so instead of eating back at Birch and the fishes, we grabbed a seat on their outside patio area. There’s open seating and couple shared bench tables.
I had the chicken pesto sandwich. Super delicious… a little on the dry side, but nothing a little ranch couldn’t fix. The fries are delicious too! Super awesome in flavor and seasoned! Yummy!!! I will for sure be back!

Loved Caroline’s! Such a beautiful view during breakfast, so it’s hard to complain! The food was tasty and affordable, ample seating, and very friendly staff.
I can’t comment on the parking since we took an über and were traveling, but it was right by our hotel and we couldn’t pass it up.
My only comment would be on the coffee– we ordered 2 cups and were told it was brewing, which is no biggie. We waited about 20 minutes and were told by a waiter that it was probably ready but we should wait another 5 minutes. I was probably just cranky after a long night of travel and being hungry, but I could have used a cup of coffee! We waited about 25 min for a small cup of coffee, and even when we went to fill the cup it seemed that the coffee was still running low and hard to pump out.
Ordered the veggie scramble with potatoes and toast– LOVED. The jam and toast combo is perfect. Also shared a sesame bagel and really enjoyed it as well.
Highly recommend this place if you’re looking for something casual and with a beautiful view!

Amazing view but the wait is foooorever. Went there on a Saturday afternoon but waited about an hour to order and then waited another 30 minutes for the food. Parking is a hassle, you have to pay for parking during the week but it’s free during the weekend but don’t expect to find a spot right away because it’s connected to the UCSD campus. The food was really good and healthy. The view was to die for. Definitely will come back when family and friends visit but not something on the top of my list.

We came back here on a rainy Sunday morning, but the place was still busy! It was definitely not as busy as they usually are, so I expected the service to be a bit quicker. Took about 10 minutes for our breakfast to come out, but it was worth the wait. The pancakes were delicious!!! The all American scramble was good, but the eggs lacked flavor. The potatoes were well flavored, but a bit over-​roasted. It was pricy in my opinion, but on par with the Cottage and the Shore House.
Parking is still a hassle, but try to park on the street! If you’re a UCSD student, they do have a separate line during busy hours and they give you a 30% discount. The service could definitely be better. The staff is not the friendliest, so it turns me off a bit.

I very much enjoy Caroline’s Seaside Café! What a nice little place for breakfast, brunch, or lunch! Great view, too!
They have a varied menu, which is always a plus, and their ingredients are fresh! Customer service is good; however, wait times are too long. During my last visit, I waited 40 minutes for some eggs, potatoes, tomato soup, and juice. Too long! That alone has discouraged me from going back. I will likely give it one more shot but 40 minutes really is too long for such a simple order.

Really great little café. Such a beautiful view right by the sea. This is in a very nice building which is a part of the UCSD campus. Parking is a bit different if you are not a student — just park in the street and it should be fine.
The food and service are really great. I had the special today — bbq chicken sandwich which was great.

I love this place! It is absolutely delicious and they offer a 30% discount to UCSD students and SIO students!
The view is incredible and I will definitely be returning avian!

Ein netter Laden mit tollem Ausblick. Die Preise sind ok, Essen (Basic Burger) war akzeptabel aber nicht super. An Sauberkeit hat es mir jedoch gemangelt. Nervig fand ich auch, dass man sich anstellen, bestellen musste und dann erst einem Platz besetzen durfte.

A super cute café near the beach. This is the perfect place to take a date or friend to brunch. The food is always fresh and delicious. I always get housemate buttermilk pancakes with chocolate chips. They’re so fluffy and soft, it’s amazing! Their American egg scramble and beef short ribs hash are both delicious as well.
Note: there is a weekday and weekend menu. There are different items on both menus with some overlap. The food items I mentioned are on the weekend brunch menu.

I’ve been wanting to come here so I’m glad I got to come on my day off. Came at 8am right at open time. No lines, no parking hassle, got front row seating to the view. It was nice and peaceful. Parking is usually a hassle here because of the beach. I parked on the street (1 hour limit 8am-​6pm) to avoid paid parking or reading all the crazy signs in their parking lot.
You have to order first prior to finding your seat. At this time of the day, it was easy enough. You order, they give you a number, and deliver your food to the table. Coffee and water are self serve and free refills. I ordered the Garden Pesto Scramble with artichoke, dried tomatoes and pesto. I chose potatoes (you can choose fruit) and whole grain toast (or sourdough). $ 8.95.
The view is just amazing and the sound of the ocean was so calming. That was the best part. The scramble was just ok. I wasn’t too impressed by it. I added some hot sauce to give it more flavor. The potatoes, however, were crispy, seasoned and just right. I’m not usually big on breakfast potatoes, so that’s a first. It helped pairing it with the scramble. The toast came with butter and jam.
I assumed you cleared your own table because there was a station for it. Trash to clear your plate, a recycling bin and the dishes bin. I went for a walk on the beach to work off some of my breakfast. It was a good visit.

Date of visit: 7÷3÷2015
After a 2 hour hike around Torrey Pines, my friends and I decided to stop by Caroline’s for a late brunch. Since it’s summertime you have to be lucky to get a street spot. There’s also a small pay lot ($ 2 per hour), which I opted to do since I don’t like circling around looking for parking. Note that half the parking lot is reserved for weddings/​special events if something is happening that day.
The restaurant is located on the upstairs balcony of Scripps Seaside Forum (the venue Cam and I are getting married at!!!), which has a beautiful view of the ocean. You definitely smell the ocean breeze, but don’t get the sea lion stink of downtown La Jolla.
Before sitting down, you have to order at the counter and get your number. The staff here is pretty strict, so you can’t reserve a space while someone else waits in line. Although mildly inconvenient, I do appreciate this since it reduces the number of people taking up space that don’t have an order coming up.
Short Rib Hash. I got the eggs over medium and they came out a little more runny than I was expecting (I know, I’m still an egg wimp). The potatoes that weren’t smothered in short rib were nice and crispy, and the short rib was decadently moist.
The dish could have used some hot sauce, but I wasn’t a big fan of the Oh Brother hot sauce as it’s a little too vinegary for me. The salt shakers also need rice in them so that the salt doesn’t clump together. We went through two salt shakers before giving up. After brunch, I opened up one of the salt shaker heads and saw that it was clogged at the top with a thick layer of moist salt. Use rice to avoid this! :)
Mimosa. They use Evolution Orange Juice here!!! I love this brand of orange juice because it has the tang of freshly squeezed juice. The sparkling wine used was just okay, but together it met my requirements of a good mimosa.
Overall, I like Caroline’s for brunch, but don’t come too hungry because the wait can be long. You also get an ocean view without the smell of sea lions, which is a huge plus. It’s also a big surfing spot, so you can watch the surfers. Tip: I’m not a big fan of their coffee, but last time I went, they didn’t mind that I brought in my own cup to sip with breakfast.