Cafe Topes - Carlsbad

The food at this place is fantastic! It’s not commercialized; instead, you get delicious, home-cooked style breakfasts. The chai latte is probably the best I’ve ever tasted! We had an amazing first visit and will definitely be returning. Plus, they allow dogs in the outdoor seating area!

We visited this restaurant for brunch and I ordered the grilled chicken sandwich with fries. Unfortunately, the chicken was rather bland and could have used more seasoning. The brioche bread became soggy from the coleslaw, which also lacked flavor. The fries were well-seasoned but unfortunately burnt. The waitress kindly brought us a fresh order of fries, which were really tasty. On a positive note, their breakfast offerings are great, and I highly recommend trying the delicious chocolate chip cookie with macadamia nuts and coconut.

After reading the fantastic reviews, my fiancé and I decided to give this place a try for breakfast about a month ago. While we found the food to be decent, we weren't particularly impressed. The main issue was that both our meals arrived a bit cold, which was surprising given how quickly they were served. We decided to return today, hoping for a better experience since the restaurant has such great reviews. Unfortunately, our second visit was just as average, mainly due to the pricing. My fiancé ordered a parfait for $9, and it came in a tiny water glass—it was almost comical watching him try to eat it. The price for such a small portion was quite laughable. In the picture, you can see the parfait next to the water glass. I was also taken aback when I ordered a cappuccino at a typical high price point only to receive it in a very small cup. Overall, the main reason I'm writing this review is due to the high prices for the portion sizes. The food was decent, but sadly, we won't be returning. However, if you don't mind spending a bit more on breakfast, I'd recommend giving it a shot. As a side note, the cinnamon bun was excellent.

Good food, but pricey. For the area, it?s probably the norm. I?ll splurge every now and then to try a new place. Delicious decaf latte. I upgraded the pancakes. This meal was $23 plus $5 tip.

The atmosphere was cute, but the food was mediocre for how expensive it was. If you want a cinnamon roll you’ll need to go early.