Nate’s Cafe

Awesome! Reopened and is now called Nates Garden grill … check out those reviews!

Nate’s has reopened and is awesome! The food is great, the staff is wonderful, and the beer and homemade root beer is fantastic. They also have what looks to be a tasty wine list. That’s next on the list of items to try. Cool, casual, great local hangout!
Indoor and outdoor seating. They have an inside and outside grill. Burgers are big and beautiful and scrumptious! The Menu is small but constantly changing so you won’t get tired of it. Veggies are fresh. Mgr is into organic/​local foods.
Highly recommend!

REOPENED! It was closed, but now reopened as Nate’s Garden Grill. Same location.

I totally went out of my way to take «someone» to Nate’s for their birthday (they had his favorite French toast EVER) and it was CLOSED… we had sadz :{
sooo, no stars?

Best local spot with great service and food.

Sadly it’s true, Nate’s is now CLOSED. I have been going to Nates for maybe 15 years. The food was great, the location sweet and right by Bill’s City Farmer’s Nursery. But there was always one thing that drove me nuts, the no exception policy. So while I don’t know all the ins and outs, I do know that Friday, November 18^th, 2011 Nates has closed up shop. Bill is looking into getting new management/​owner to run this sweet spot. I would love to do it myself … but don’t have the money to invest in such at this time.
I wish you and your staff the best of luck and to Bill, I hope you find just the right fit for the restaurant.

Definitely do like this place. A small mom and pop stand next to a small family farm. Nate does a great job competing w others by having a variety of options to est… their special of the day when we went was the blueberry pancakes. Usually when other do it, they just add a little bit of the fruit, however this place, with their homemade syrup does it right!
Hope you can give it a try… its good to are a small family style breakfast joint in the heart of City Heights

First impression, weird location. but such great reviews. Very intrigued, must try it. Very small location right next to a nursery. The interior is homestyled with animal ornaments and old books/​cookbooks. There’s also a deli counter.
The food is spectacular. You can definitely taste how fresh each item is! The best breakfast food I’ve ever had at a restaurant. Came here twice within a month :) dennys/​ihop can’t even come close to this…
–Pancakes: so fluffy and flavorful with very bite. just omg. delicious.
–French toast: presentation was so cute! They were cut into about 6 circular pieces. Delicious with a hint of cinnamon which my boyfriend loved
–Hashbrowns: super crispy which is how I like it!
–Eggs, Sausage, Turkey Bacon: all fresh, and it was my first time trying turkey bacon. It was really crispy and had a somewhat smoked and lighter feeling than pig bacon
Only downside is that it is a bit pricey for breakfast food, but really hard to find anything fresh/​delicious like this!

Lots of background noise if you sit outside and food took a little while. But the food was great and fresh! I ordered the veggie eggs benedict which where really good except that the main part of the dish, the eggs, were overcooked and the yolk was not runny :/​Not too pricey though. When you talk about a whole in wall type of place, this would be it. Come check it out for yourself.

I felt like I was in Julian while visiting Nate’s. Very homey, it felt like my grandmothers house from the inside and reminded me of the countryside on the outside, covered in plants and knick-​knacks and conveniently located next to the cutest nursery I’ve ever stepped foot in!
The waitress was a little off and a bit weird, but the chef (whom I think is the owner) came out after overhearing the confusion of my friend wanting to add fruit ON TOP of his pancakes. That was nice of him.
The Veggie Benedict was outstanding, a total twist on your regular ol’ ham, egg, muffin with hollandaise sauce. In place of ham was sauteed spinach, mushrooms and onions and topped the whole shebang with avocado. And the side of fruit? Glorious. Quite possibly the best fresh peach I’ve tasted.
I would absolutely recommend this place to anyone looking for a delicious breakfast joint (they also have an abundance of sandwiches).
And make sure to check out the adorable nursery next door!

Nate’s Café is a hidden Gem most def
but if you do find it be prepared for a delight
if you dont know what to order get the special of the day

Me&my boyfriend are in LOVE. We’d choose Nate’s Café over IHOP & Denny’s any-​day.
Seriously, this place is soo good ! We walked in &was asked «Hello, would you be joining us for breakfast today?» Seriously, the nicest lady ever.
We took a seat &decide it was too small, so me moved. Our server didn’t say anything to us when we moved. I mean, it was just a seat down. Haha.
I texted during my breakfast, they didn’t say anything. Maybe because it was just me and my boyfriend, but still. :P
I got the Florentine Omlette. My boyfriend got the Favorite Combo.
The Pancakes were light, fluffy, &had a light crisp to it. Overall, it was delicious. Turkey Bacon was crispy. THEY HAD GOOD BANANAS, FOR REAL. I don’t usually eat bananas, but these were good ass bananas! Orange was juicy. :D The eggs were light&fluffy.
My Omlette was cheesy and delicious, but those pancakes, OMG. GET THE PANCAKES. GET IT!
Hash Browns were crispy, and better then McDonalds.
They give you a good amount that hits the spot. Me&my boyfriend were full, so we took the left-​overs home to my friend. Hahaha: D

This place is phenomenal. I went here with my mom and my boyfriend a couple days after thanksgiving for Sunday brunch. My mom said (and I quote) «This is one of the best breakfasts I have EVER had.»
It was fresh, made to order, and just one guy cooked our entire meal. So good! The hash browns were the best!

Who would have guessed that a relaxing oasis like this could exist just of 805 @ Home Ave?
I declared the Western omelet the most delicious omelet I have have ever eaten. My dining partner described his veggie benedict as «exquisite».
The Western omelet came with a generous stack of juicy ham and the precisely perfect amount of very finely chopped red pepper. The hash browns were tasty.
The service was attentive and friendly, the prices right.
What makes a visit a particularly unique experience is that the property is one part café, one part well-​stocked ma-​and-​pa garden center, one part, uh… what would you call a place that sells live crawfish (except the two that were apparently mating), koi, and has onsite at least one goat, a handful of clucking chickens, and heaven knows what else was running around the nursery?
There also appears to be an upholstery business on the premises.

I have waited so long to do this review.
It’s almost like going to the Soup Nazi. There are rules you must follow:
No bills higher than a $ 20 bill
No substitutions; must order the standard order
No cell phone use
There is another rule I can’t remember but…
You have to behave and obey because they food is good and healthy (as healthy as hash browns get). The location adds to the charm because you find this little safe gem in an area with low-​rent apartment buildings and run-​down homes.
The food is tasty and straight forward; no fancy chef-​made creations. The décor is very home-​like and the usual server is polite but cold and not very welcoming (almost diner like). It is good for those eating alone and families. They have a little patio where one can sit and enjoy some nice potted plants and flowers.
Hey! You could make it a little family outing by visiting the nice nursery next door to buy some healthy greenery or colorful flowers and to check out the little animal farm (this was a hit for my little nephew).

:-)
Me likey…
Just off the dirt path aways (literally next door) from the City Farmers Nursery is this great little spot called NATE’S Café.
You’d never know its there… and though I normally like to recommend and rave about places I like… I know for a fact Nate likes to keep this a secret… It’s more «doable.» I’m told that a crowd of people isn’t what they’re looking for… but just a nice even flow of people here and there.
Nate’s cooking off a small portable grill that’s not much bigger than a small coffee table! And I’m told they use a propane attachment … their circuit breakers couldn’t handle the load… (no electricity?)
GETTHEF*CKOUT!!!
Yep… that down home country café with its southern style country décor, and its tasty comfort foods is working off a grill and propane attachment that most people use when they go camping… WOW. how much more southern authentic can you get?
Well then… your secret is safe with me Nate! I won’t tell people how great the hashbrowns are… or how much love is put into making pancakes, eggs, ham or cornbeef hash and «facon…» I won’t tell em about the fresh Orange Juice, Coffee or comforting ambiance… I won’t tell em how you put my fried eggs right inside my BLT. just how I likes it! (though the bacon is facon.) And I won’t mention how I loves the hashbrowns… real hashbrowns… crispy on the outside and tender on the inside… (not that home potato concoction)…
You wouldn’t want a line of people outside waiting to be see your friendly faces and be served tasty comfort food.
No. No!
Shhh. mum’s the word.
*whispers*
4 Woofs. Yay is right.
(prices are reasonable. and credit cards accepted)

I’ve been there a couple times since my last review and I’m not as happy with the place. It is still cute and cozy… but the food has been lacking a bit. The sandwiches since then (Veggie Patch, Vegan & My friend had a chicken salad) haven’t been as good. They ran out of vegan mayo one time and then yesterday they had no avocado. and still charged me 8 bucks for a veggie sandwich. That is when i realized Nate’s is pretty EXP for sandwiches!
On the Plus side: it is fresh and healthy… so I will still go there once and while. It is just too expensive and not consistent to go there often.

I have come here a few times a month since my first review, and this place is LEGIT. I feel like I am in someone’s dining room when I eat here. The bad experiences others speak of? I haven’t seen any of that. They’ve been super nice to me every time. Maybe it’s because I’m sexy.
Turkey bacon, fresh fruit, generous avocado portions (with dishes that have avocados), REAL MAPLE SYRUP, flufftastic pancakes. There’s no other place for breakfast for me in San Diego. Nate, you have stolen my heart.

Nate’s (breakfast spot # 33) is a somewhat secluded little café found in the City Heights area of SD. I say somewhat only because there’s a relatively busy 2-​way street at the foot of the entrance. I also say secluded because it seems to sit right in the middle of a nursery. Now, this nursery seems a bit suspicious to me. Perhaps my imagination runs a little too wild at times but something is quite odd about that place.
When I arrived and asked if I could just sit anywhere, the server was apologetic upfront stating that they were slammed even though the place wasn’t packed. However, since it appeared she was the only one working all of the tables, I understood her situation. I told her I would sit outside and she said she’d be out there as soon as possible. It was a nice sunny weekend afternoon and with a screen covering over the patio area, no one was going to burst into flames like a vampire in the daylight.
I ordered the Pancake Combo which consists of 2 pancakes, 2 eggs and 2 bacon or sausages.
Pancakes
Hash browns
The pancakes were nice and fluffy while the hash browns looked like frozen Ore-Ida’s as a result of the rectangular shape. Not bad but the thought was firmly planted in my mind before the first bite. The fruit garnish was actually fresh and quite delicious — I was kinda shocked. The server was nice though I actually had to go to the register to pay since it took her forever (and a day) to return. I think I will return with The Woman That I’m Currently Married To in tow — I think she’ll dig the cool atmosphere.
Ready for a little nonsense? Of course you are! Well, as I was enjoying my pancakes, I kept noticing these shuttle buses pulling into the lot on the other side from where I was sitting. On the side of these shuttles it said something about senior homes and sure enough there was a line of elderly folk a comin’ and a goin’ off of these things. Then it hit me like the stench from the Tijuana River: this nursery is not-​so-​secretly selling marijuana to old folks! If they are selling that stuff, I’m sure they’re doing it legally in accordance of all local laws in the area. I just wish I could’ve seen their happy faces as they all left with their own quarter-​pound bag of weed.
Who says that Christmas comes only once a year?

Looking for a nice relaxing place to have breakfast or lunch? You found it at Nate’s café. You almost feel like you are at some body’s home for a meal. The staff are super friendly and mellow folks.
My friend is here from out of town and was hoping for a local greasy spoon like Red Hut in Lake Tahoe. I searched on Unilocal and found this magical place that had the bomb-​diggity ham and turkey bacon. I wouldn’t call it a greasy spoon though which I actually preferred. But it made both me and my guest satisfied.
I swear it took us like ½ hour to decide what we wanted to eat. I decided on the Spinach Florentine omelet and my friend Marcella decided on the eggs and ham. If you are in a hurry this is not the place for you since Larry (I believe that is the cook’s name) takes a lot of pride in his work and you can tell just by the preparation and presentation of your plate. I loved my Omelet and which also a like ¾ of an avocado on it. I tried my friend’s ham and is was to die for… very thick slice and cooked to perfection.
At the end of our meal the cook came out and chit-​chatted with us and was super nice. I was a very nice breakfast and I will def. be going back to have lunch there.