It’s not really a surprise that in San Diego Magazine’s recent best of San Diego edition they included a category for the most “Romantic Spot Other than Cafe Chloe”. It’s also not really a surprise that as I peruse URBANIST’s 3 Meals & a Bar blog,  our favorite San Diegans mention Cafe Chloe not once, not twice, but six times as their favorite place for breakfast, lunch, or dinner (no one said tea but if that was an option I’m sure someone would.)

 

Let’s talk brunch. Everyone loves it. I love it at Cafe Chloe. Last weekend I ate here with two girlfriends and though it probably is the most romantic spot in San Diego, it was also perfect for three ladies in the mood for a morning on the town. Brunch is only served on the weekend and the full dining room and patio is proof of its popularity.

 

Cafe Chloe is a french cafe in the East Village with a garden-like patio and an inside seating area surrounded by black and white french chic. The decor is simple and classic. Word on the street is they are opening another location in Mission Hills too!

 

I had the croque madame. My husband took French in high school, I took Spanish. He says that in his textbooks for every level of French, the croque madame is as ubiquitous as jamon y queso was in mine.I don’t eat a lot of pork but I do eat a lot of fried eggs and I wish I ate more gruyère and béchamel so it was the perfect dish for me. I was in desperate need for black coffee that morning, not a cocktail, so I had to get a raincheck on the lavender-lime mimosa. 

  

One of my friends ordered the pancakes but every time a server walked by with another dish she followed the tray with her eyes and said she wished she ordered whatever walked by. She ended up liking her pancakes but next time she’ll be getting the omelet.

While waiting for our meals, I wandered into the back dining room to take a few photos of a wall covered with framed black and white photos and I found the tiniest, cutest, wrought iron staircase in the world. I thought it was just decorative but no! Walking back to my table, I passed a couple who climbed the tiny staircase and sat down. They looked like giants but they were perched up there with the best view of the rest of the cafe and patio. I accidentally said outloud, “You can sit up there?!” which they did not respond to. The answer is obvious.

 

 

And so is my recommendation to eat brunch here, repeatedly.