My husband and I discovered Donna Jean through American Express, and while we aren't vegans ourselves, we left completely impressed. This meal exceeded every expectation we had for vegan cuisine. We ordered a pizza and a salad, and both were outstanding. The pizza was packed with flavor, and the crust deserves a special mention--it had the perfect texture and was so good that my husband couldn't stop talking about it. But the real star of the meal was the salad. I'm still completely bamboozled by the vegan "feta." It was tangy, rich, flavorful, and genuinely crave-worthy. We didn't leave a single leaf behind, which almost never happens. We were seated outside with cool air and plants that kept the vibe relaxed but improved the overall experience. Thank you, Donna Jean, for expanding our palates and proving just how incredible plant-based food can be. Creating dishes this satisfying and delicious without animal products is seriously impressive. We'll absolutely be back! read more

Donna Jean - Really Good Salad - Pizza Near Me - San Diego, California

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We came in on a Wednesday for the dinner special, and it was such a great value! The special included a beverage, an entrée, and a dessert, which made it easy to try a few of their favorites. I ordered the Badmotorfinger pizza on the thin crust, and my friend got the same pizza on the Sicilian crust. Both were absolutely delicious, but the thin crust had the perfect balance of crispness while still letting all the flavors shine. We finished the meal with the Snickerdoodle cookie with a scoop of vanilla ice cream, which was the perfect sweet ending. Everything we had was fresh, flavorful, and beautifully prepared. The food exceeded our expectations, and the Wednesday special makes it an even better reason to visit. We'll definitely be back to work our way through more of the menu! read more

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I have been wanting to try Donna Jean for a long while and finally went there tonight with three friends (who are not vegan or vegetarian). We all enjoyed what we had! I had Agnolotti Bolognese and like it alot! My friends had a Vulgar Display of Pineapple pizza and the Badmotorfinger pizza. And we all shared 2 orders of Really Good Salad. The interior appeared clean and bright. I liked its high ceiling with the cool-looking hanging light feature. The wait staff was nice, but maybe short-handed...? It took a long time before our order was taken and to get our check. We weren't in a hurry, so we weren't too bothered by that. Also, the stoppers on the water bottles needed some scrubbing or replacing; they didn't appear especially clean. Had the service been faster and the bottle stoppers looked clean, I would have rated Donna Jean with 5 stars. I look forward to going there, again, and trying other menu items! read more

We had an early dinner with friends before a show on a Monday. Service was great. Room was nice. Bathrooms have a "gas station" vibe and need some new lighting and general sprucing up. My food experience was mixed. Some people in our group had great food. The "Vulgar Display of Pineapple" pizza was excellent. I had the papardelle pasta with vegan meatballs. The sauce was excellent but the pasta was too thick. Some bites were like eating dough. I'll definitely give it another try. read more

Donna Jean - Papardelle with "meatballs" - Pizza Near Me - San Diego, California

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I'm not Vegan and this place was delicious! We got the Caesar salad and Heathen Pizza. Would never have guessed either was Vegan and loved both of them. The sangria was also delicious! The restaurant itself has a cute date night vibe and a small patio and a small parking lot. I'll definitely be back! read more

The Quick: Insanely delicious vegan pizza, generous portions, creative options, a must! The Details: I wish we could have eaten here twice in one weekend. The food is insanely delicious and creative. The new location has lots of seating including outdoor, and they were still popping. Everyone loves pizza! The damage: reasonably priced read more

It was my first time here and the place had a really funny smell. Like an old cheese kind of smell. We ordered the bread, mozzarella, Alfredo pasta and the black widow pizza. The only thing I liked was the bread and pizza. The pasta was very soggy and the mozzarella didn't really have flavoring. Defiantly worth a try but maybe next time I'll try something else. I do want to say the customer service was 5 stars. read more

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Donna Jean is the dream! This North Park - San Diego gem is an instant favorite. Having been a fan of their former Sherman Oaks - Los Angeles location I knew the OG was gonna be the first place to be. And when bae not only suggested but planned our first stop for eats here, I was too excited to stop in here. We did an awesome pizza and calzone brunch with their Breakfast in Bread, a forever favorite as well as their Vulgar Display of Pineapple pizza pie. Both were a hit, though we did expect an obscene amount of pineapple! There was very much a good amount, though not in the "vulgar" sense. Lots of delicious things here however including but not limited to those Home Fries, Chicken Fried Shrooms (or even the Hot Shrooms), Cast Iron Shells & Cheese (Mac), Fungazi pizza, Badmotorfinger pizza, Really Good Salad (that's actually what it is and also named), Caesar Salad, Raspberry French Toast, Blackberry Buckwheat Pancakes, Desserts, Sides and so much Pizza, Brunch dishes and beyond! Great for Dinner, Lunch, Brunch or even "Linner." Love the service here, our server was super cool and friendly as was any of the staff we interacted with such as the hostess and a few others. Love that they share a space with Evolution: Fast Food next door, which has a front patio outside by the parking lot. It's a plant-based foodie oasis of eats, treats, sips and sensational service. The vibes are warm as well as inviting off El Cajon Blvd/Hamilton Street where D.J. reside, just past the light at El Cajon & Oregon Street. Parking is plentiful, but also limited in their lot, and this place as well as it's neighbor both stay busy, especially on weekend. Street parking is fairly easy as we lucked into some options off Hamilton. Restrooms shared with Evolution can be found on their side. Pup friendly. Family friendly. Lots of good items to go in their display case. Beer, wine and craft beverages for you to enjoy here. Free Wi-Fi available also makes it a great place to not only enjoy meals or beverages, but the entirety of Donna Jean. Swing by and let the, "Great food from the best ingredients," be the experience you never forget. VWL/Q Tip: Don't forget to check out their Margarita Pizza Monday deals, Pizza Making Classes and more. read more

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Food We have been waiting to try this place for months. We attempted to come the last time we were in town and they were not taking any walk ins, it is more of a reservation only place so make sure to plan ahead. The reviews are right and the cast iron Mac and cheese is a must. It is so cheesy and really nicely crispy since it comes in a cast iron. My partner said it was the top dish he has had all year. The widow is really good, a surprising in a good way mix of toppings that go so well together. The server was right that you need to do it on their regular crust because the Sicilian would be too overpowering. Service Checked in on us, the food did take quite a while and noticed other tables who ordered later got their starters and entrees before us. Helpful with the Togo boxes as well since we intentionally over ordered Ambiance Shares with a fast casual place and each table had fresh flowers and a candle which was a nice touch. They have an indoor area and outdoor patio with heaters. read more

Donna Jean - Cast Iron Mac and Cheese - Pizza Near Me - San Diego, California

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I was looking for a place that could help me stick to my "meatless Mondays" while I was visiting from out of town and this place did not disappoint. I could not believe everything that I ate was pure vegan. It was delicious and I would highly recommend it to anyone who loves good food that happens to be plant based :-) great service and good ambience. I definitely plan on going back when I'm in town again. read more

Donna Jean - Pizza Near Me - San Diego, California

Absolutely loved the food here! So much so that I went twice for the week I was in San Diego. The staff was really great and ran service smoothly on a VERY busy Saturday. The restaurant is cute too. One of my coworkers even said this is his favorite pizza place, and he isn't even vegan! read more

Donna Jean - Pizza Near Me - San Diego, California

Okay this was the first noteworthy meal, that left me thinking about it, I have had in a while. I visited Donna Jean for brunch a handful of years ago but this was my first visit for dinner, and I thoroughly enjoyed it. I will say, off the bat, that yes service is slow as other reviews mentioned. A full hour passed between when we entered and when our food arrived. Fortunately for us, we were not in any rush, so we enjoyed the food when it arrived. Besides the wait, our waiter was also good. He didn't seem stressed out despite the restaurant going from almost empty when we arrived to almost completely filling up. The dessert, the cookie skillet with ice cream, was just average. However, the meal itself was very tasty. We got the lasagna and the pineapple pizza. That was definitely just the right serving size for the two of us even though I thought it might not be enough when the food arrived, it was heavier than it looked. If you have the time to sit and enjoy, and don't have to rush anywhere, definitely check out Donna Jean when you are in the San Diego area! read more

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I went here with my husband for my birthday brunch, and it was the absolute best experience! It's a fully vegan restaurant, but to our surprise, we couldn't even tell--everything tasted exactly like our non-veg favorites. Our waitress was also incredibly sweet and attentive. The overall ambiance is laid-back, with plenty of indoor, outdoor, and bar seating. It was a fantastic experience eating vegan food, and I'll definitely be back! read more

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Love Donna Jean. This is the best place to catch up with friends while eating great vegan food. We tried the cast iron mac and cheese, olives, and Caesar salad for appetizers. The Heathen pizza is one of my favorites because of the basil. Finished off with the pizookie cookie and decaf coffee for desert. read more

Donna Jean - Pizookie and decaf coffee - Pizza Near Me - San Diego, California

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Finally visited their brand new location in North Park, and parking was already so much more accessible and open than their previous location in Hillcrest. Service was wonderful, and we got our food served pretty quickly. We ordered a bunch of food but the Heathen pizza was heavenly indeed. It truly is one of the best pizzas that I've had in San Diego. Overall, this revamped version of Donna Jean is already an upgrade and more. read more

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I went to the Donna Jean location in LA before (RIP) but this was my first time here. I think it's in the location where Anthem used to be (RIP yet again). I went with friends for dinner, but I really want to go back for brunch sometime. We ordered the mushroom chicken fried steak, the Heathen pizza, the caesar salad, and the bread with garlic butter. Our server was AMAZING. I love the ambiance. Parking wasn't bad on a Saturday night. My only issue is that they use metal plates and I have this weird thing with utensils on metal. It's like fingernails on a chalkboard. read more

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Donna Jean is one of those places that reminds you how good plant based food can actually be. Everything is vegan but this spot is just as great for non-vegans who love flavorful, well-done food. Their newer location on El Cajon Blvd is also a huge plus with plenty of parking in a dedicated lot. They do allow pets and animals in their patio area. The service is always fast even when the team is busy. We've been coming here for years and the dinner menu staples never disappoint. The beet hummus is incredible, the cast iron mac & cheese is rich and filling enough to share and my husband has loved the lasagna. For pizza, the Widow Maker is our go-to. We get it with the thin crust but they recently introduced a thicker crust. So far, we still prefer the thinner crust. And you absolutely have to save room for the cast iron cazookie with vanilla bean ice cream. It's always worth it! What we just learned (and are very excited about): they now serve brunch six days a week. We tried the raspberry French toast and it was honestly one of the best breakfast dishes we've had anywhere. The warm jam purée and their house-made oat and pumpkin seed toppings were so good. We love that the French toast fruit changes seasonally. The biscuits and gravy were also a great savory option. Bonus: in the same space is Evolution, their fast-casual vegan spot, perfect if you're in a rush. Next time we're eyeing the California burrito and the Evo burger. Highly recommend if you want plant-based food that's creative, comforting and consistently delicious. read more

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Mushroom lover here. Warning: Hot shrooms gave me acid reflux for the whole day. Order and proceed with caution. I ordered food at evolution, the fast food vegan restaurant nestled on the right side of the building, before going to Donna Jean so Donna let me order "to go". After 10 minutes, they placed the to go box along with a fork and knife at my table in evolution. Hot shrooms ($19) comes with 2 deep fried king oyster mushrooms doused in very vinegary buffalo sauce, a slice of toasted bread, and 3-4 pickles. The shrooms were delicious crunchy on top. Unfortunately, the breading was congealing/mushing together in between the shroom layers. Because of this, only the top was appetizing. Out of the 2 mushrooms, I only ate 0.25 and it still gave me acid reflux for the rest of the day. To be clear, I opened the to go box immediately upon touchdown so this is definitely not what caused the mushrooms breading mess. If I could redo, I would absolutely not order the mushrooms again. read more

Donna Jean - Hot Shrooms - Pizza Near Me - San Diego, California

This place is amazing! Great food great service. Ricardo, our server was the most friendly. We had great recommendations! He even gave some recommendations for things to do in the area. Very awesome. Would definitely come back here again. (And we did) read more

While visiting San Diego my husband , daughter, and I decided to try Donna Jean. We made reservations and were seated immediately upon arrival. It took awhile for anyone to come to the table. Our server (Joe) came over and was friendly and helpful. We started with the Caesar salad, which was fresh but could've used a bit more dressing. The chicken fried mushrooms were crispy, and savory, but the mashed potatoes and gravy were excellent . For our main dish, we shared the Heathen pizza, and it did not disappoint. The crust was perfect, and the toppings were delicious and well-balanced. My husband thoroughly enjoyed the vegan parmesan cheese. Overall, it was an enjoyable experience for all of us. read more

Donna Jean - Pizza Near Me - San Diego, California

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Its been a while since we had a calzone or tofu scramble so we got the breakfast in bread. The bread itself to the calzone was good. It was fluffy but also chewy which is the sweat spot. that being said, I dont think the tofu scramble was a good fit for it. It didnt much of a texture which was disappointing and the flavor was pretty neutral. They do give you a curry sauce though which does add enough flavor to offset the tofu. The staff was super friendly and quick. We felt welcome the moment we entered. The price was a bit high for what I was expecting for a calzone at around $20 but that might be standard for san diego. In general I like the idea of what they were going for but I should have gotten something else. read more

Donna Jean - Pizza Near Me - San Diego, California

We have been for brunch and dinner. Service was so-so both times, but I love love love their gluten free pizza and will be back. The crust was thick and fluffy unlike many gf pizzas. My daughter really enjoyed the hot shrooms. Be sure to check out the fast casual restaurant at the back too! read more

Donna Jean - Spanish omelette - Pizza Near Me - San Diego, California

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We ate here for brunch. We shared a pizza and each had a salad. The Caesar salad was delicious but the croutons were not that great. The other salad was delicious. Pizza was so good! Everything looks delicious. read more

Donna Jean - Caesar Salad - Pizza Near Me - San Diego, California

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Best pizza I've ever had !! Restaurant has an amazing clean ambiance, very relaxing, kind friendly staff. Friend who wasn't vegan absolutely loved this place and food ! I am not from San Diego, but Donna Jean will be in my must-go-to-place list every time I visit ! read more

Donna Jean - #1 Crush pizza , strawberry lemonade - Pizza Near Me - San Diego, California

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The pizza was really good and I love all the unique, vegan flavor options. The mac&cheese was okay. It did not really taste like mac&cheese but it did have a good flavor. The interior is very nice. I like how clean and crisp the design is. But I can't give a great review because the wait was sooo long. We had to wait at least an hour to get our food after we ordered it. We ordered a cookie at the same time as our regular food and we actually had to cancel it because it never came out in the 90 minutes we were there. read more

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We were greeted as soon as we entered the restaurant. We waited a few minutes longer than usual for our food but when it arrived, it was freshly cooked and delivered pipin' hot & delicious. I miss the textures of deep fried food, but if it's a choice between health and my tastebuds, my health always wins! So today's menu choice for me was a splurge. I ordered the the Chicken Fried Shrooms. Perfect crunch, just the right seasoning, and paired well with the gravy...reminiscent of Roscoe's Chicken And Waffles. It was yummy! Our food was made to order. This restaurant shared space with The Evolution Fast Food which is also vegan. From there, I ordered the Tropical smoothie. I loved how they created two different layers of the smoothie each layer with distinct taste (pineapple/mango). Great eats; when in town high ly encourage that you give them a try! read more

Donna Jean - Pizza Near Me - San Diego, California

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I was very pleased with all of the dishes we ordered here! We got the Caesar salad, fried oyster mushrooms, flatbread pepperoni pizza, and the blackberry cobbler. Everything was demolished.... I thought the portions here were really good for the price. The staff was great and accommodating, and I really like the ambiance in the evening. The space is interesting, looks like they share the area with another vegan restaurant on the other side of the building. read more

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Excellent pizza! Service was so nice and prompt! The ambiance was chill and spacious. I noticed people were eating alone and with people, so it seems/feels like a safe space. read more

Donna Jean - Badmotorfinger pizza - Pizza Near Me - San Diego, California

We had an event nearby and decided to try Donna Jean out as it looked like a cute place! We did look on Yelp beforehand to see what kind of food they had, and we've gone to several Vegan spots before and enjoyed them, so we were open to trying this spot out! - PARKING - Dedicated lot, not a huge one but we were able to snag a spot at 5:30pm. - SERVICE/ENVIRONMENT - Nice high ceilings with big windows letting the natural light shine in. There seemed to also be outdoor patio seating as well. We sat down and service was fairly prompt at coming to take our order. I wouldn't say it was the warmest service we've had, as it seemed like they were just doing their job and trying to get through their shift. Not much enthusiasm, and I personally didn't get the feeling they enjoyed their job. After ordering it did take a bit for our food to come out, but when it did, it smelled great. We actually ended up ordering something else to go because we wanted to try it, but that took a lot longer to come to us. - FOOD - Widow Pizza: This reminded me of a BBQ chicken pizza, with the sweet savory combination of flavors. It was tasty but just OK. Rigatoni Arrabiata: Wasn't spicy really, and the dish felt very plain. Mac N Cheese: This was the dish we ordered last and it ended up being our favorite dish. Wish we had gotten this to begin with. - OVERALL - Still glad we gave Donna Jean a try but likely won't be coming back. read more

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Nice interiors. The servers were all friendly. I loved the fresh bread and the really good salad. The pizzas were hit or miss. We loved the four horsemen with the thick crust but the widow pizza was too crusty. The marinara was too saucy and it felt like the sauce needed more cooking. Would recommend the chocolate chip cookie, it was great! read more

I first went to Donna Jean at the old location downtown, and more recently to the new one on El Cajon. Both visits the food was great, particularly their delicious pizzas. At their new location, the service was still being ironed out when I stopped by. It was on the slow side and not quite as attentive as I would have liked. And while it gets a lot of natural light, enhanced by the white decor, I think it misses a little bit of the charm of the old location (particularly sitting outside in the former's garden like environment.) But will I go again? Of course! They are very fine purveyors of italian/pizza and that's enough for me. read more

Donna Jean - Salad days - Pizza Near Me - San Diego, California

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The only thing I really loved was the bread and butter. The other food we got was just okay. My husband really liked the Mac and cheese. The only thing I didn't like was the ice cream on the cookie. That wasn't for me. The food came out in a timely manner except for the pizza. We probably waited about 45 min for the pizza. The restaurant is shared with a vegan fast food takeout spot. I probably won't go here again but I could be swayed for a chance to eat the bread again! read more

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Wow, my husband and I were really impressed with this place! I have to say this is the best plant-based Italian food I have ever had. It's my new favorite pizza spot. We started with some root beer and an alcohol-free brew. For an appetizer, we had the Really Good Salad, and it definitely lived up to its name. The portion was generous and fresh. For our entrees, we ordered the cacio e pepe pasta and the Widow pizza. We finished every bite. The pizza was fantastic. The funkiness of the black garlic mixed with the sweetness of the dates was so delicious. The kale on top added a healthy, earthy touch that balanced everything out. The pasta cacio e pepe was great. I would have never guessed it was plant-based. There was something so comforting and nostalgic about it. It reminded me of mac and cheese with pepper, like what I used to eat as a kid. The service was excellent. Our server was friendly and personable. When I mentioned I was craving sushi, he even gave me a great recommendation, which I really appreciated. The ambiance was somewhere between formal and casual, perfect for a special night out without being too fancy. This place is a welcome addition to the area, and we will definitely be back. read more

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Vegan food as it should be: fresh vegetable and fruit ingredients. Most places that boast vegan food that I have eaten at typically attempt to mimic food with subpar or suspicious ingredients. Not Donna Jean. The pizza used a carrot based sauce to replicate cheese that was delicious in its own right but also mimicked cheese well. Highly recommend the pizza and mushroom steaks! The restaurant was low key and not overcrowded at all. I was expecting it to be more formal but was pretty casual and great for kids. The restaurant was plenty of parking on site and the staff were so kind! read more

The Widow pizza is a Must-Do! The sweetness and smokiness of the date puree, the sweet and funkiness (in a good way...in a delicious way) of the black garlic helped to make this a stand-out pizza. Also added in are black kale, house-made ricotta, red onions and Calabrian peppers. This is 100% a re-do pizza on our next visit. We also ordered the #1 Crush. Not as interesting as The Widow, but it is just what I wanted, and I will order this again on our next visit as well. We vegans know that it is difficult to find a delicious pizza that doesn't scream 'vegan cheese'. We also ordered the aptly named Really Good Salad. I hope they don't mind, but I'd like to create my own Really Good Salad at home because I could eat that every day. I usually ask for dressing to be on the side, but occasionally at certain restaurants I will not ask, trusting them to let the vegetables stand out. Donna Jean did that, and I am so glad. I really do prefer to taste the vegetables, rather than have my greens drenched in dressing. We had impeccable service. I felt that the service we received was comparable with other high-end vegan restaurants. Looking forward to returning with friends to share this wonderful vegan restaurant with them! read more

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Nice casual place. The wait for food took awhile but I think it was because it was before Thanksgiving and it seemed like they had a lot of pick up orders! The Mac and cheese was delicious! Great cheesy flavor with a bit of crunch from the breadcrumbs. Also the hot mushrooms were fire!!!! They had a kick to it but flavorful and yummy! read more

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Monday brunch with the girls. I was taken aback when it was an order at the counter setup. No big deal, we grabbed menus, parked it outside on the cute patio. After browsing the limited menu, we decided on the salad, mushrooms and breakfast calzone. We order, pay, grab our own water, cups, utensils, napkins and plates. Started to question why I tipped too generously for having to gather my own things. We retreat back to our table. The cashier brings out my friend's Kombucha. She comes back out to notify us the Beet Hummus was no longer available, that I could choose something from the starters section, we already got the other items so I requested a refund. Within 5 minutes salads arrive. Mushrooms followed shortly after. My friend insisted not to wait for her expected hers would be along shortly after. Roughly 15 minutes goes by, no breakfast calzone. I'm halfway into my salad. My friend checks on her calzone and just asks for it Togo and orders pasta for her beau (so she doesn't have to eat alone) since two of us are almost done eating. Another 20 minutes go by, still nothing. The place was practically empty when we arrived and there was only 1 group in front of us. She goes back in to check on her order, it was ready. Not sure how long it had been ready and it just didn't got brought out. I wanted to confirm that I received a refund so I requested a receipt. The cashier said her manager would complete the refund by tomorrow and email me. I said great, but how would she do that if they don't have my email. She repeated herself to which I asked how if I didn't give you my email. Now I'm frustrated, feeling like we're not speaking the same language. She said if there is a problem with the refund, I could come back. But I don't want to come back, I just want my refund. I asked for paper and pen to write down my email. I left concerned that I wouldn't get my refund since the last interaction didn't go well. I waited to write this review. Happy to report back, I did receive my refund. The food was all delicious. The color, textures and flavors in the salad were refreshing. The mushrooms were crispy and filling with just enough heat. I would prefer less sauce or rather as a dip. My friend said her calzone was amazing. I suspect they forgot to put in her order that's why it took so long. I would have appreciated them acknowledging that so we could have slowed down our eating pace, the whole reason for dining out is eating together. Even though food was good, service missed the mark. Will order Togo but I recommend staff get more training on customer service. read more

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What a great vegan brunch spot! 1. Maitake steak and egg: great sear on the maitake mushrooms. And such a huge portion too! 2. Cast Iron Shells and Cheese - added truffle cream and mushrooms on top (this was the perfect touch). The dish came out piping HOT and was probably the best vegan "mac and cheese" that I have ever had. It was creamy, rich, and had just a hint of spice and citrus to balance out the dish to prevent it from being too heavy. 3. The Motherload - pretty standard, but tasty in its simplicity. Would definitely return to try their pizza one day. read more

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Absolutely delicious food! The North Park location has an airy, pleasant atmosphere, and the people who work there are wonderfully friendly. (Brooke was our waitress the first time and Sam was our waiter the second time. They - as well as the host - were lovely.) * Highly recommend trying the lasagna and pizza! read more

My family and I dined in on Saturday evening and received awful customer service from our waiter. He was inattentive and nonchalant about our needs. We asked for the heat lamp to be turned on 3 times and had to wait over 20 minutes for someone to take action. In addition to that, we had to inform another server about an inedible salad we received since our server didn't check on us until we finished our meal. This restaurant was one of my favorite restaurants to in at in Los Angeles, but sadly, the San Diego location dropped the ball. read more