Urban Crave — Restaurant in San Diego

I am providing this review in hopes that no one else will waste time and money at urban Crave. First, this is an airport restaurant so I'm not expecting a Michelin Five Star experience. I am, however, expecting reasonably polite service and food within a reasonable time so I'm not going to have an issue with my flight. The food is overpriced but it's an airport so it comes with territory.

My son and I had 50 minutes before our boarding time so I really wasn't worried about getting my food before I boarded my flight ---I should have been. I foolishly thought --how long could a club sandwich and a fried chicken sandwich take to prepare? The answer is 43 minutes at Urban Crave. As I watched the kitchen staff fumble through their orders I realized my patronage was a mistake. While the reenactment of the "Three Stooges Go to Culinary School" played out, it dawned on me that every village from San Clemente to Tijuana has offloaded their village idiot on this establishment for employment.

While I sat and waited for my to-go order under the sign at the bar that very conspicuously read "To-Go Order Pick-Up" a waitress came over and asked for my order. I politely told her I was just waiting for my to-go. She told me I was sitting in her section and she can't make any money if people don't order." I was literally stunned at her rudeness. While I sat here I saw the bar tender rudely tell another patron that was trying to order food that she didn't take food orders and he needed to find a waitress.

Finally, as my flight is boarding our "food" was ready. When we got seated on our flight and tried to eat the $20 sandwiches, we both determined neither was edible.

By all means DO NOT GO TO URBAN CRAVE. Steal extra pretzels from Southwest or hit a vending machine for a 3 year...

I am writing this review with the thought in mind that this is the smaller terminal Gates 11-18 where the affordable airlines like Frontier and Spirit fly out of. As well as San Diego is a small airport compared to larger International Airports like LAX or SFO. They are also renovating the San Diego Airport currently - in a few years this review could be obsolete if they connect some of the terminal areas up.

The food here is decent and better than school cafeteria lunch. I would put it on par with Denny's or Bar Food. The main menu item is burgers, chicken tenders and salad.

The service is stressed out because they're trying to make sure to take your order, serve your food and check you out before you run off for your flight. I am not dinging points for service because there is a walk up order to go line if you are in a rush. I consider it lucky to have a server in an airport restaurant that isn't a private lounge.

Other Food Options: A - Bring your own food. You can't bring soup or water. But you can bring sandwiches, burgers, spaghetti with sauce, muffins, cupcakes, fruit, chips, candy, chocolate, bread, salad. If you are flying international you will need to eat all vegetables and fruit (food that can harbor parasites) or throw it away before you exit airport security. If you are flying in the US you can bring it to and from. B - If you want a more affordable burger there is a Jack in the Box right before you enter TSA you can stop at for food. *You will just need to buy a drink from Peet's Coffee, Urban Crave or the Mini Market. Urban Crave - Get a to go cup soda and refill it before getting on...

As airport food goes, Urban Crave is pretty good. I wouldn't go out of my way for this if it were outside of an airport I fly out of 3-4 times per month. But, as far as breakfast is concerned, this is a decent spot previously in Terminal 2 of SAN and now in Terminal 1. A Bloody Mary and the "Yuppie Wrap" was my usual Monday 6am meal before they moved to Terminal 1. The Yuppie Wrap is a wrap that contains bacon, eggs, cheese, avocado, and fries. (Kudos to them for not trying to claim this is a burrito.) I usually hold the fries -- not for taste reasons -- but because it makes the wrap too heavy for my first meal of the work week.

When I've flown out of SAN in non-morning hours (which is rare), I've ordered the chili hot dog, which is humongous and also decent -- better than most pub hot dogs.

Best yet, none of Urban Crave's food has resulted in an unfortunate lavatory visit during any of my long trans-con flights.

My biggest complaint about this place is that it is slightly over-priced, even for airport restaurants. Given the lack of reasonable alternatives, I deal with it.

If you like your Bloody Marys spicy, be sure to tell them that...