CRUST KITCHEN — Restaurant in San Diego

Overall it was a meh or disappointing experience.

We started with an an appetizer of the Mac N Cheese Fries, which were good. The only issue with them was that they came with scallions and it wasn't listed on the menu (other items list them). I am fine with scallions, but the wife is not, though we were able to pick them off. The rest of it was quite good.

We ended up getting the Triple Cheese pizza, which again is the wife's choice since she prefers cheese-focused pizza, rather than sauce and meat focused pizza (while I prefer meat lover, I am good with most pizzas and consider myself an easy audience). This turned out to be a mistake. It came with "oil, garlic, mozzarella, ricotta and feta", and there were various issues with some of those ingredients. First was that it didn't have any standard sauce (which, unless stated otherwise, is usually a given, even for a 3 cheese pizza). Worse than that (because I can live without marinara sauces) the ricotta tasted bad. Not like it had gone bad, but like it just wasn't good cheese. I'm normally mediocre on ricotta, but this genuinely was not enjoyable. Same with the feta. I generally love feta, but this is the first time I disliked that as well (not sure why it was cubed and rubbery). Overall it was technically edible and not "bad", but we didn't finish it (each only able to eat a single slice) and couldn't bring ourselves to take it home for leftovers. So that may have been the biggest disappointment.

Aside from that, the wait staff was generally negligent. Not rude, not mistaken on the order, not incoherent, not clumsy. They were just absent. I do feel like it is more personal to me, but when a basic thing like refilling water seems to be a problem, then there's something wrong. To the point where my glass was empty at the edge of the table when she brought the pizza (I was in the restroom) and then she was at the table behind me filling their water and then completely skipped our table. She was nice enough, but was not as attentive as most restaurants I enjoy to return to.

If I do come back, I would like to try either one of their plate dishes, or maybe just a normal Pepperoni pizza to see if that is any better. But this was largely disappointing. If it weren't for the appetizer, likely it'd be 2...

Our first day in San Diego for my cousins wedding we had to eat lunch. This Crust Kitchen place (we thought was pizza) was right next to our hotel.

The ambience looked pleasant on the photos and then we read the menu and it looked like there was more to offer.

In my opinion the only advice I have for this company is maybe the name doesn't really highlight what it sells to its customers....moving on..

Our first trip we had the club sandwich, split with my wife and I. I checked in on Yelp and I got a free soda lol I was stoked but the server we had took about 15 minutes to come back. I don't remember her name but she wasn't a bad waitress. I was hoping for a soda on top of my water I ordered...also ordered a coffee but she didn't hear me so I stuck with my water w/no ice.

The sandwich was great. THICK ham and Bacon but I will say it was dry(no mayonnaise)...great though. Not complaining. The potato chips tasted like a homemade baked lays. Wasn't impressed. Dry and no salt... Everything was good enough that day....until we went back the next morning!

Thanks goodness the waffle spot was packed because we went back to the Crust Kitchen. Our server Vera was phenomenal! Wow! Her smile, her laughter, her attention to detail, and her ability to get us what we needed before we even asked for it. She had GREAT recommendations and yet even explained how I would probably not like something based in my tastes.

The Mexican omelet was bursting with flavor! The salsa, jalapeños, lots of cheese, and don't even get me started on the flavor of the fresh coffee... It was to die for! I've had lots of coffees in my lifetime but their house black coffee is hands down the best! From piping hot flavors, to even when it was room temperature. It never became sour and I could actually taste the after notes in the coffee while drinking it.

Vera was nice enough to give us a cup to go. Without even asking. That's amazing service! Vera deserves a raise. Maybe we will see you again Crust Kitchen. Maybe with a different name? lol

The only bad item on the meal was the breakfast potatoes. They were not cooked all the way, soggy and not crisp...same with the vegetables cooked into them.

I'd come here and sit in...

Oh my God. So from the Portland area, went to Anaheim to see Disneyland and California adventure. Drove down to San Diego to hit the zoo and Safarai park. After a few long days of walking and just plain terrible food (both from the theme parks and places we tried in the area)... we were hesitant to try someone new again. But this was in the parking lot of our hotel and the pictures looked good so we wandered over. And I am so happy we did.

We ate supper there last there, breakfast there this morning and plan on hitting them up again for supper tonight. The tri tip was not over cooked. The Mashed potatoes were garlicky and smooth. The garlic toast was a nice touch we weren't expecting. The mac and cheese was creamy and not Kraft Mac&Cheese or seemingly microwaved like other places (should have seen my husband devour it). The chicken fried steak was cooked well, crispy and not dry. The service last night was meh. Waited a long time for a refill on water and not much interaction with the two girls working. One girl was nice, the one who served us. The other girl who sat us initally didn't really seem to want to be there and spent most of our visit folding up silverware into napkins. But that's fine in the long run really.

The breakfast sandwich I got this morning hit the spot. Toasted thick sourdough bread. Flavorful aioli. Crunchy arugula. Egg exploded all over but thats my fault for not eating over my plate. I knew it was a fried egg, I was just so excited to eat the sandwich. The waffles seem to have cinnamon in the batter maybe? Not sure but delicious. Fluffy on the inside. The breakfast potatoes weren't overcooked (lots of places burn these) and they were seasoned well. (We've spent all week getting food with seeming no salt, pepper or garlic or anything so this was super great. I ate them so quickly. I couldn't contain myself.) The service we got this morning was phenomenal. He was a funny, engaging, accommodating. He was talking with customers, cracking jokes with us, and interacting with the cooking staff in a professional way but they all seemed to engaged with what he was doing and saying.

I can't wait to go back and try the creamy chicken...