This place is such a hidden gem! the food was amazing, and service was a 10/10. It's a great spot if you're looking for a nice brunch or even a good study spot, and they had amazing coffee!!! read more

THIS RESTAURANT IS OPEN! The Manager explained the social media people he paid to update his YELP posting indicating he's reopened haven't done it yet! I went there yesterday (3/10/26) with a friend for her birthday and we both had a delicious brunch. I had a delectable quiche with salad; my friend had avocado toast with rosemary potatoes, and an almond latte. The restaurant has a new interior, with more space between the also-new tables. I recommend you try it!!! (You'll notice there are other recent reviews from 3/6 and 3/7/26.) read more

Sad this place relented to new management/owner. I used to really enjoy it! I was only one of two customers (the other one only had a drink). The lone waitress did not know what kind of wine they had. Neither did she know the Seafood of the Day. I wound up w/an anonymous red & ordered off the menu. The party of 10, who came 10 minutes later, jostled my table as if I wasn't even there. No one came to provide me an out of the way table, just a glass of their putrid $5 wine (which I refused). Half hour later, no dinner, no checking on me. Everyone made me feel invisible as The Lone Diner. Never again!!! read more

Nature Forward Socal Bistro - Linguini alla Diavolvo - French Near Me - San Diego, California

Ordered the crepe madame and the wild mushroom toast. The young lady who was waiting on us was kind and also seemed to very overwhelmed even though there was maybe 10 people total in the restaurant. It took over 30 minutes for the food to come out and the crepe was cold and completely it was the wrong order. Everything else was hot and good. She apologized and said she would expedite the new food. We remained patient. Another 30 minutes went by and we felt like she avoided our table knowing we were getting impairment. We called her over and she said she thought we didn't want the new order put in. Over a hour wait for a crepe with an egg on top and it never came. Overall, I left frustrated and hungry. If you've got time to kill, this may be the place for you. Don't expect fast service. read more

We loved it! The owner is super kind and interactive with guest! I ordered an omelet, 10/10! He even made a custom tea for my friend who lost her voice. If ever in the area , we definitely will be stopping again. read more

Nature Forward Socal Bistro - Menu - French Near Me - San Diego, California

Great food amazing atmosphere, new ownership! Our local spot where we go every Friday! read more

Nature Forward Socal Bistro - Yogurt desert - French Near Me - San Diego, California

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Nature Forward is a hidden gem with fresh, flavorful dishes and a welcoming atmosphere. The ingredients taste clean and thoughtfully sourced, and every plate feels crafted with care. The coffee is outstanding, rich and smooth, and pairs perfectly with their pastries. Service was attentive, friendly, and genuinely hospitable without being overwhelming. The space feels warm, modern, and relaxing. You can tell the owner truly cares about quality and customer experience. I'll definitely be coming back and recommending this spot to friends and family for sure. read more

Nature Forward Socal Bistro - Red snapper with broccoli & potatoes - French Near Me - San Diego, California

Went to find a cute, GF friendly brunch place to catch up with a friend around UTC and we hit the spot! The waiter was hilarious with his deadpan delivery and the interior of this place is absolutely gorgeous. I ordered the OZ Shakshuka-- super yum, I added the potatoes into my dish to give it a perfect combination of texture and balance to the savory flavors. Unfortunately they were out of bananas for the Fraise Crepe that we ordered (GF), so the chef added extra strawberries instead. The filling was strawberry jam instead of dulce de leche, but for a gluten free crepe my roommate said it was adequate! The fries that came with the Crepe Madam were delicious-- be sure to ask the waiter for a side of ketchup to go with it. Overall we spent around $70 including tip for 3 people. I'd definitely come again for the ambiance and to try out their drinks next time! read more

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The first time we attempted to visit here we couldn't find it. Called and they were renovating with an opening date in a couple of weeks. We were in the area again and decided to come back for a visit. Small little tiny bistro, absolutely love the theme and decor, nature leaves (my fav!) The menu is a bit overwhelming, but that leaves plenty of options for everyone. Our first time dining here we wanted a quick bite and ordered the Classic Benedict to share with oven baked house potatoes with a side of bacon. I ordered a fresh squeezed orange juice and hubs got a lemonade. Our second visit for drinks we ordered fresh squeezed orange juice and a strawberry lemonade. For brunch I ordered a half sandwich and soup combo - Croque Monsieur with French onion soup and a side of fries. Hubs got the Short rib Benedict. We have loved everything we have ordered each time we visited. I can drink endless fresh squeezed orange juice! The Benedict's are always a good choice. The half sandwich and soup was perfect! The Croque Monsieur was delish and perfectly paired with a cup of French onion soup with a side of salty shoestring fries. Tried the hubs short rib Benedict and it was rich and hearty. He loved it with his extra avocado and bacon. They use fresh ingredients. The restaurant is clean. Staff are friendly. It can get warm inside with the warmer months with that you can sometimes be dining with pesky flies. Very annoying. It can get busy and the tiny two tops are very small to be able to order multiple items. I do like that they have pastries right up front and also hand made pops! I will have to try a pop on my next visit. Enjoy! 2025: 17 read more

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Wow talk about the slowest service EVER! It's a Tuesday morning at 9 am so not a busy time at all. Barely any people here. We got sat right away then given water 5 min later and that's it. The waitress never came back! The place is practically empty and the service still sucks! Really unfortunate since the menu looks good. They need to train their staff how to make customers happy and actually do their jobs right. Can't imagine how it is on a busy day. I would rate zero stars just on the customer service. Horrible! Don't come if you are hungry cause you will never get fed. read more

This place is wonderful! I was looking for something European to take my mother out for brunch. When we searched, I found this place which seems like its tucked away in La Jolla. When we arrived, this plaza has a small town feel. Upon walking in, we were greated by the friendly staff. While we waited for our table, we reviewed the menu and saw some eye catching items. You can view the picture and description on what was ordered. Food here is delicious. Simply put. We shared several dishes, two entree and a dessert, which was more than enough. Upon finishing our meal, all three of us were in agreement that this is a place we need to revisit and try other items on the menu. Love the friendly staff btw. Made the expirience so much more enjoyable. I would love to visit here next time for a cup of their delicious coffee and pastry sometimes. Great job team! You have something special here. :) read more

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We wanted to try a brunch place with healthy options and dog friendly. It wasn't too crowded for a Sunday when we arrive but they were short handed that day so the service was extremely slow. They apologized for the wait and even gave us a 20% discount. The food is actually very good but portions are on the smaller size especially for the price point. read more

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Michelle L commented previously about the slow service. I was actually there when she was and she told us but we decided to wait. We did go inside and ask whether they were going to wait on us and they came out a bit later and the service was ok but not the greatest. So Michelle actually should have at least asked them what was going on instead of going off in a huff like she did. Especially since she thought the food sounded good. I would still go back and give them another chance. read more

In town to visit our son and he brought us here for breakfast Early on labor day. The food was good and the service was fine. Only giving 4 stars as they were out of cream and ketchup which I found crazy for a breakfast and coffee spot. Our orders all came with fries and they had no ketchup. Seems weird to me! read more

We walked in and they weren't busy. The staff is super nice but the food is not San Diego degree food. Good music. Waited too long. Now I come to yelp and see yelp marked this as permanently closed! This is concerning. read more

I was on the hunt for a new GF (gluten free) friendly breakfast spot after my usual place stopped serving their ricotta corn cakes. I love hosting friends or grabbing weekend brunch with my local crew, so I was excited to try Nature Forward for the first time especially after seeing their gorgeous outdoor patio online. Unfortunately... things went south before we even sat down. I checked their Yelp and website before coming both said they were open until 3 or 4pm. We arrived at 1pm, well within that window, but were immediately greeted by a waitress with a hasty demeanor who first told us they were closed, then switched to, "Only you two?" and instructed us to order right away. Not exactly a warm start, but fine we already had an idea of what we wanted. We ordered a breakfast burrito (mine, with a gluten-free tortilla) and a chicken Caesar wrap (my fiancé also opting for GF). Each GF tortilla was a $3-4 upcharge, so our meals came out to around $20-21 each. Pricey, but I'm willing to pay for quality. The food came quickly, but for that price, I was expecting something more memorable. My burrito was basically eggs, tomato, and bacon in a tortilla with salsa nothing special, and honestly, I've made better at home. My fiancé's Caesar wrap had grilled chicken stuffed in straight off the heat, which made the tortilla soggy and the salad inside wilted. The textures were off and it wasn't pleasant to eat. By 1:40pm while still finishing we were already being asked if they could take our card for the check. Between the inconsistent closing times (the door says 3pm, Yelp says 4pm) and the rushed service, it left me feeling anxious instead of relaxed on what should have been a beautiful Saturday morning. Giving 3 stars because the area is lovely, parking was easy, the patio is beautiful, and the space was clean. But for me, the food, service, and rushed vibe don't justify the price I won't be returning again. read more

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It might be an off day so this review may not be 100% accurate. The layout of the dining room is pretty good, with sunlight coming in naturally. However, here are details of the whole experience: 1. The restaurant was not full but indoor tables are pretty much 80% occupied. Pretty comfortable seating and it's not too loud. 2. Nothing was mentioned of unavailable items before ordering. Only when the order was made, the waitress said the item was unavailable. This happened twice. 3. Very long wait on receiving the food. Other tables also complained of the same issue. 4. Ordered the angus burger with potatoes because french fries were out for the day. Angus burger was dry, and the potatoes were lukewarm. We received hot potatoes after asking to warm the existing potatoes. read more

Even when busy short staffed and overwhelmed the staff here is still smiling, on point and still delivering good service. read more

Nature Forward Socal Bistro - The Sandy Beach and the Chardonnay are amazing - French Near Me - San Diego, California

Tips: New business started here Jun 2024 but photos from previous one are still listed for this listing, disregard them. New decor with relaxing ambience. We were here for Sun lunch and the place was packed. Service is great and food was delicious. We ordered crepes and fritta. Will go back to try other items on their menu. read more

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My food was so good!!! You can taste how fresh the food is and got super excited about my Bluberry scone. Definitely, stop by here if your looking for food that makes your tummy happy read more

This is a place of many mixed messages. The menu is quite large for breakfast and lunch and very well documented where an item is vegetarian or gluten free. It even tells you is there is an up charge for something out of the ordinary. The food was tasty . The omelet was fluffy and good, but the rosemary potatoes were cold. The ratatouille was very good and the salad had a nice light dressing. The coffee was good, but no one offered a second cup. Half and half was requested, but we received milk instead. When questioned about it, the waitress said she would check with the kitchen, but never came back with an answer. The menu stated that the London Fog tea had steamed milk and honey. When I received it, there was plenty of foam, but no honey. The server needed to take it back to have the honey put in. It was better, but different than any other that I have tried. A typical London fog has earl grey tea, vanilla syrup and steamed milk. This was a bit disappointing. The service was a big challenge. The server who took our order was good and helpful. He knew what he was doing. The other server (her first day) was not doing a good job at all. She was nice and kind, but unprepared for this kind of service. She definitely needs to be trained. The last item is the price. There are many, many breakfast and lunch places in SD. Paying over $50 for two people is outrageous. There are excellent places in the area where the cost with tax and tip is less than $40. Many of them have loyalty clubs which give you discounts in their reward program. They need to look at the competition and get more in line with them in their pricing. read more

Nature Forward Socal Bistro - BYO Omelet - French Near Me - San Diego, California

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A very cute place to grab a bite! Tried the Lorraine Quiche and the SD Summer Smoothie. I liked the quiche but the fries were surprisingly really good. Smoothie was fine, didn't really stand out to me for how much it cost. No one was at the front when I came in so I guess you just go in and take a seat wherever. It's very clean and quaint. Parking is very easy. I'd definitely come back again! read more

Nature Forward Socal Bistro - Quiche Lorraine - French Near Me - San Diego, California

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The inside is beautiful, very aesthetically pleasing!! The menu is vast which made it hard to choose what to eat with soooo many different options. I will say the service is a bit slow, it's a small place so it's understandable, but I loved the blended horchata, and we added espresso to it and it was delicious!! I did not like the matcha at all, I don't recommend ordering it. We also tried the chilaquiles, they were okay... but our server was the sweetest and I love the vibe!! I would definitely come back just to hang out and get the horchata drink again read more

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Best breakfast I've ever had in San Diego Open 8 to 9!!! They're the only place that serve breakfast Met the owner he's super nice and very family oriented read more

The black coffee here was good. None of the other coffees we tried were any good. The food left a lot to be desired. Steak was overcooked and bland. Burrito was mostly eggs and bell peppers. Really disappointing considering how expensive this place is. We would've ordered more coffee but the waitress hardly ever came and when she did ordering was a struggle. Really slow service. One of the workers made 5 coffees for himself before finally making ours. Really disappointed I won't be coming back here again. read more

My party and I arrived here around 9:30am, so there was no wait at all. Service was fast and responsive. We were seated quickly and ordered our breakfasts in a timely manner. I have no complaints on service. I ordered the buttermilk pancakes. I was surprised there was no syrup with it when it arrived. The strawberry spread was delicious with the whipped vanilla cream on top. The strawberries and banana toppings were delicious and ripe. However I found the pancakes themselves not very fluffy and were slightly dry. They were alright but not impressionable which is disappointing because I had high hopes for the pancakes. 3.6/5 We also ordered a honey citron tea from the pot. I personally found the tea too sweet and diluted my drink with water. 2.5/5 Otherwise I found the breakfast very hearty and filling. The menu had plenty of options and hope that if I come back here, perhaps I'll enjoy my food more. Much thanks to the quickly responsive and kind servers who allowed my party to stay for awhile and catch up. The ambiance was pleasant for conversations and the place itself felt very classy, coastal, and calming. read more

Nature Forward Socal Bistro - Buttermilk Pancakes - French Near Me - San Diego, California

New owner who provided us with excellent service, food and explanations. A group of six walked in and were treated very well. the meat was excellent and the heirloom carrot cake almost dangerous because so delicious. Will come back, for sure. read more

A cute little bistro tucked in the UTC Renaissance shopping complex. The staff is warm. I grabbed a cold brew and it was not bad. The store also sells some unique health forward snacks. Food seems pricey. read more

Fantastic food, coffee, and service with indoor and outdoor seating available. Grab a quick pastry and coffee to go or have a leisurely nosh - this bistro is perfectly equipped for both. The service is attentive and the menu is creatively extensive with breakfast and lunch items for wide-ranging preferences. Known for conscientious, organic, sustainable, & locally sourced products; Nature Forward does not disappoint. @sturdygirlstyle #sturdygirlstyle read more

Nature Forward Socal Bistro - French Vanilla Lavender Latte - French Near Me - San Diego, California

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Beautiful nearly opened with very nice decor and a French style environment. They are popsicles at the end and lots of lighting and green plants throughout the whole place. Came in early with a friend at around 10:40 AM, but the place is packed within the next hour. One thing I would say is that the service took a long time they were all lead to servers and overall it was a much slower service than expected. The food is good nothing to really rave about overall I would say that the quality seemed good and açai bowl that I got with banana bread was pretty good, but it did take some time to come. See pics, if I came again I would definitely prepare myself for the pace of the meal. read more

Nature Forward Socal Bistro - French Near Me - San Diego, California

Really wanted to like this place it's cute and had good reviews so I came in for breakfast today. I was really disappointed with service and the food. The person who took our order didn't know how to make a chai tea latte and couldn't answer anything about the menu. I tried ordering the tomatillo chilaquiles with scrambled eggs but she said they didn't have the sauce for them but that I could order the order ones, mole chilaquiles. Okay no biggie, I love mole. When they came out the eggs weren't scrambled so I let her know right away and she told me I needed to order them like that or they come out like that. Mentioned I did order them scrambled so she took my plate to the back. When my plate came back it was the same eggs they originally served to me just chopped up. Didn't feel like bringing it back up so I ate around them but come on now. The mole was very bland, it wasn't good. read more

Nature Forward Socal Bistro - Same eggs just chopped up - French Near Me - San Diego, California

Fly found in the middle of my breakfast burrito. Lost my appetite and had to throw the whole thing away. Also confused as to why they accept online orders as early as 8am if the restaurant doesnt open till 10. I placed my order around 8:10am and it wasnt ready ready until 9:10 due to them being "busier than usual". When i got there, there was 1 person sitting outside. This was the second time we have had to wait at least an hour for our food. read more

Nature Forward Socal Bistro - Extra protein? Found a literal fly cooked into my breakfast burrito. Meanwhile i waited an hour for takeout - French Near Me - San Diego, California

Came here for the first time and I am already planning my next visit. The atmosphere is relaxed, warm, and has that perfect SoCal feel, the kind of place where you sit down and immediately just feel at ease. The food is genuinely incredible. Everything I ordered tasted fresh and carefully made, not like it was thrown together. For a first visit I wasn't sure what to expect, but every single dish was a hit. And the service? Super friendly and attentive without being in your face about it. The staff really made the experience and made me feel like a regular from the moment I walked in. If you're looking for good food, good vibes, and good people, this place has it all. Definitely coming back!​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​ read more

Had a really great time here with friends. Very friendly and homey service and the food was amazing! I got the acai bowl and I simply devoured it. My partner got quiche for the first time and it was made so good! Our friend's burger was huge too and truly was worth it! read more

The space is thoughtfully decorated and feels so welcoming, wherever you look. We got a plain croissant and an almond croissant to go. The almond croissant is packed with almonds which I appreciate and the filling isn't overly sweet, which is also highly appreciated. Would love to come back if I'm in the area! read more

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Came for breakfast since we were in the area. Everything tasted amazing. Had the lobster toast, croissant, and the hazelnut coffee. I loved it all!! Service was great. The waitress was super friendly and helpful. The restaurant is so cute and cozy. Would love to come back again soon read more

Have been here 2 times already and all I can say is...YUM! The staff are so friendly, the restaurant is not crowded, and the vibe is always so nice. My family and I got the Brioche French Toast (rating: 9/10), Lemon Poppyseed Oatmeal Pancakes (rating: 9/10), and the Farmhouse Bagel (rating: 8.5/10). I previously got the Eggs Benedict (rating: 8.5/10). All were super delicious!!! You can tell each dish was made with love and fresh ingredients. I'm excited to try the whole menu! The only critique I have is that there's no AC which might be an issue during the summer. Other than that, I believe it's the best breakfast/brunch place I've EVER eaten at in San Diego. read more

Nature Forward Socal Bistro - Bagel Farmhouse, Brioche French Toast - French Near Me - San Diego, California

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Was super excited about this place. Pictures were great. We stopped by here on Friday so it wasn't busy at all. See I e was pretty bad. Took about 40 minutes to get our food. The manager or owner just looked like he was annoyed there were people there lol. Food was okay but not worth the bad/slow service. Coffee: the decor on the ceiling was all coffee bags which is pretty cool so I was excited for coffee. The coffee tasted like instant coffee. Overall pretty disappointing. A lot of potential at this place. Note: bathroom tiles are so slippery it's not walkable. I was thinking it was something they cleaned it with and let the employee know because I was worried about the older people in the restaurant. My daughter almost slipped multiple times. When I told them they said they just replaced the tiles and have heard that complaint. read more

This restaurant is unbelievable. The owner came out to greet us personally the food and service is unmatched.

This place is definitely added to my list of "must come back." Modern rustic decor, soft music in the background, very pleasant! Loved the quiche Lorraine and the flavor of the roasted potatoes and tomoato was a perfect accompaniment ! The staff was calm and polite and non intrusive. Check this place out!! read more

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