Studio Diner — Restaurant in San Diego

The food is still good, but the level of service here has diminished A LOT since they re-opened after the shutdown related to the pandemic. Their pre-pandemic vibe was very different. I used to be amazed at the excellent service every time I ate here. The old crew worked very well together and they had an obvious extreme focus on the customer and they were always very efficient. The current crew "just does ok (but barely). They are now more interested in talking to each other and standing around. How could it take 6 minutes for me to be acknowledged sitting at the counter when there are six employees behind the counter lounging around?

I also noticed the current crew waits at the food window for the cooks to put up an order. The old crew was much better at bouncing around from the food window and helping customers while they were waiting for the cook to put up an order. So basically the current crew wastes a bunch valuable time trying to do one thing at a time. Simply not efficient. The old pre-pandemic crew always seemed to be clicking on all cylinders - so much so that they were interesting to watch. The old crew was also super efficient at getting around each other in tight spots, particularly behind the counter. I just witnessed a guy say "excuse me" to a coworker twice before she finally slid over and let him by. And she wasn't doing anything important - just listening to another server talk.

It took 6 min for anyone behind the counter to acknowledge me - they were all chatting with each other and walking by repeatedly, until finally one girl came over and said hi and took my order.

Another 5 min after I ordered my coffee she still hadn't delivered it. She was bouncing around having conversations with employees and other customers. I eventually had to wave down and ask a different server to bring my coffee, which she did almost immediately.

When my order arrived it was wrong - I clearly asked for no powdered sugar on my waffle and the girl acknowledged it - but it had powdered sugar, so they had to make a new one, but the new one came out pretty fast.

None of the servers ever asked if I wanted a refill on my coffee, so I stopped by a nearby Starbucks afterwards.

I don't know why the service is much worse than it used to be, but I can say this place has definitely lost one of the things that used to make it shine. These comments are based on my last visit, but also on my last few visits over the past several months. Yes, it's still worth going here for a good comfort food meal, but it's less likely you'll get that "service magic" this place used to...

Immediately not inviting! Before you can get inside there are multiple signs saying no outside drinks and a 2 hour table limit.

Almost no vegetarian options or plant based meat alternatives, (even Burger King offers an Impossible whopper) join the new century.

Food was meh 😐. Super expensive for the portions and flavorless to be honest. We tried there since it had such good reviews, but I left feeling very disappointed. I had the Eggs Florentine, besides pancakes and waffles it was the only vegetarian option. When you are vegetarian, some places like this, the only option is carbs, carbs and more carbs. I am not a breadatarian. Or I could have ordered an omlete with meat, paid for meat and told them to not add the meat.

I didn't want pancakes or waffles, so I ordered the Eggs Florentine. Literally, if i had never ordered it in my life, it would have made me wonder why anyone would even have it on the menu. Store brand-ish room temperature, not heated English muffin, topped with a not ripe (pale orangeish) slice of tomato, possibly a half of a teaspoon of sautéed spinach on one, the other only had parsley? Sprinkles on top. The eggs were cooked ok, but no salt or pepper, possibly microwaved?

Ahhh....the the hollandaise. Absolutely the worst hollandaise I have ever had. Not sure if it was canned or made from powder? I get it, hollandaise is not easy, but that is why I order it when I go somewhere with a professional chef! It tasted like Alfredo? Cheese? Gravy? Couldn't quite place it. My friend tasted it after my reaction to my fist bite, it was so not what I was expecting. And she agreed. possibly it was a cheese gravy that needed salt. Color of hollandaise but obviously an imposter. Tasted faintly like Mac and Cheese.

The "giant" Belgian waffles was one normal sized round waffle, only a tad larger than my waffle iron at home, for $12. Whipped cream or strawberry slurry was an additional $2.50. Pancakes looked good, 2 pretty large, not big or giant, pancakes for $9.

I didn't order coffee since it was $4 for just a regular coffee mug of coffee. My friend ordered coffee and it was basic. No wonder they need a sign saying no outside drinks! 😅

Needless to say, it wasn't like anything I saw posted online. Won't be back for more gravy mac and cheese...

We went to the Studio Diner, and I got the San Deagan, a Bacon Cheeseburger with Jack cheese, Avocado Red Onions, Lettuce and Tomato, with a side of Onion Rings, the Onion Rings came out fresh, so those were really hot when we got them and were VERY good, the burger was okay, though I feel like it could have used Mayonnaise or something. The burger was juicy and tasted great!

The one thing I am kind of sore about is beyond the control of the restaurant, and that is the parking and seating situation. The place can EASILY seat I'd say maybe 50 people if not more, The parking however is limited, they also set a 2 hour limit per customer at the hosts discretion, which makes sense given the limited parking. But with the number of businesses in walking distance I figure the majority of their customers are folks on their break from work.

The fact this is across the street from Jack in the Box Corporate Headquarters also amuses me.

Update: 5/9/2023

I returned to Studio Diner for breakfast this morning, I ordered the Corned Beef Hash, eggs over easy, country potatoes, sourdough bread, and a half order of biscuits and gravy.

The Biscuits and gravy were good, it seems they either toast or pan-fry the biscuits before pouring the gravy on them which I liked, as the biscuits had a light crispiness to the outside. I was surprised to see the sausages for the gravy on top instead of in the gravy like most places do, but all in all it was good regardless.

The Corned Beef Hash was okay, I enjoyed it, but it looked and tasted much like the canned stuff you can get at the store. Which isn't to say it was bad, I enjoy it. But when I go to a restaurant I kind of figure most things on the menu would be made there. Though this is coming from someone with no experience in the restaurant business. So keep that in mind.

The Country potatoes were interesting, but I saved those for last, so those I needed to take home.

The one thing I will give them is the waitress regularly checked in on us and asked how we were doing, and that is something I will...