Come to Second Nature if you're looking for a great-tasting brunch but you're too lazy to look thru a full menu. Because you cannot make a bad choice here. Friendly waiters and a relaxed environment. Probably my favorite breakfast spot in Pacific Beach! read more

They outside vibe was very nice. Being close to the beach you have a beautiful breeze. The service and food was very good. The Coke products are served in a can and I wish I would have known before ordering or else I would have gotten something different. All in all was a good dinner. read more

I'll start off positive and the food was excellent always a excellent.. went to dinner Friday night it's pretty crowded One hostess one waitress one bus boy and one bartender.... Now it's a Friday night who in the right mind schedules only one waitress... I counted a total of 15 tables she had to wait on all by herself The boss boy tried to help her but I'm not sure how much he's allowed to do The hostess young gal just stood at the podium probably still learning her job and the bartender serve drinks as if that was such a busy thing All to say no one helped the waitress bring out any food she had to do everything I don't blame the staff but wonder what management is thinking and staffing on a Friday night like that The fact that there was no leadership or teamwork or not helping one another was concerning... One waitress can only do so much poor gal read more

A long time ago this North PB location used to be Turquoise Coffee. Second Nature turned the space into a nice open-air bar and grill with indoor and outdoor patio seating. Parking was all curbside, but it wasn't too difficult to find open spaces on Cass or a nearby cross street. I sat at the bar while the rest of the place had scattered customers seated both inside and outside. Some folks had dogs with them as the venue was pet friendly. When I visited several years ago, the menu was heavy on vegetarian/vegan offerings. The current menu still does have several plant-based choices, however the selection was less. Specifically, I didn't see any jackfruit items available anymore which was what I enjoyed last time. From the list of seven Mains, I picked the first one which was the Salmon Quinoa Plate. A couple of grilled salmon fillets were placed on top of herb tossed quinoa with zucchini, lemon caper sauce, and grilled lemon as the other components. I was surprised to taste a bit of spiciness in the sauce. My expectation was this dish was going to have no heat. The fish was slightly overcooked while the zucchini was fine and served as a neutral foil in the mix. The service from the bartender was fine. For the price and food quality, I gave a three star rating for my latest dining experience at Second Nature. read more

See all

I love second nature I think they do a lot of the American and other classics very well. They have a really good brunch and lunch menu. You also have the option for healthy food items like açai bowls and salads but then you can also get a burger and fries I think this is a good spot to have a casual friend hang out. I got the breakfast salad. It was amazing with the poached eggs and I love the dressing and the bacon was perfectly crispy. great service too! read more

Second Nature - Breakfast Salad - Breakfast & Brunch Near Me - San Diego, California

When I first went here the service was weird but them peoples have moved on. They make some tasty breakfast potatoes, I'd seriously stop by every day for them potatoes. The pesto chicken sandwich is very very good!! The braised short rib is equally tasty!! The best burger in pb... hmmmm... maybe 5th best ;) read more

See all

Love the vibe here! We came here for happy hour and had a wonderful cab and a lemon ginger fizz and also an ap of caprese stack. Lovely wine , drink and food. I want to say that the wait staff and service was so friendly and accommodating which made everything wonderful. read more

See all

Love the outside ambiance of this restaurant and the best part about it, they're dog friendly! They even have dog meals so while you're enjoying a meal so can your fur baby. The truffle fries are amazing! Honestly some of the best I've had. The burger and sweet potato fries were also fantastic, the restaurant doesn't have a liquor license so they only sell wine and apple cider. A big plus is they have vegan and vegetarian options. Portions were fantastic, definitely looking forward to trying this place again. read more

See all

Went here when I was in town for work because of a local recommendation. However, I was not very impressed. The menu overall was mainly more healthy with a bunch of salads, wraps, and acai bowls. I kind of feel like the food looked better than it tasted. I got the Buddha Quinoa Salad (Mixed greens, quinoa, spiralized carrots, beets, guacamole, pepitas, hemp seeds, champaigne vinaigrette) as it has a bunch of things I love on it. It was pretty bland though. The beets didn't taste fresh (maybe canned or something) and the avocado was some of that packaged pre-smashed avocado so it also wasn't the best. I added some tofu to the top that I think was another $8 for like maybe 10 cubes of fried tofu (not worth it). My bowl was like $25 and very meh, but I was happy it had a lot of healthy ingredients. My table also ordered the burrito, a salad with salmon, and the acai bowl. If I were to go back the acai bowl looked pretty tasty and I would try that instead. They had a nice open patio and even their inside space had big open window/wall space for fresh ocean air. There was no view though as it is blocks away from the ocean in a residential neighborhood. Our service was alright, but not the most friendly. They were able to split our tab per person so that was nice. I personally don't feel a need to go back. read more

Second Nature - Patio - Breakfast & Brunch Near Me - San Diego, California

Just because a food dish is meatless doesn't necessarily mean it's healthy, but let's pretend it is. ;) Got my grub on with a group of friends at this airy little plant-based spot in PB, and we shared the following apps: Green Hummus Plate (House hummus, pita, cucumbers, pickled red onions, Kalamata olives, fried chickpeas, and olive oil. Vegan. Nut allergy.) Tangy Cauliflower Bites (Rice flour breaded cauliflower, citrus sauce, bell peppers, sesame seeds and green onions.) Truffle Fries (Crispy French fries, truffle oil, parmesan, and garlic aioli.) Pretzel (One big pretzel, beer cheese, and dijon aioli.) Nachos (Beer cheese, pico, black beans, tortilla chips, guacamole, jalapeños, cilantro, cilantro aïoli.) I'd really only classify the Green Hummus Plate as health-conscious, but whatevs as everything was pretty tasty! I also enjoyed my Lime in the Coconut mocktail. Service wasn't particularly standout but perfectly adequate, especially given we had a large party of 6 which later became 8. read more

See all

I do appreciate that this restaurant had plenty of seats open and let us order food within an hour of close when the Fishery next door was too full to seat us last minute, so keep this as an option if you've flown in after work and are starving. We ordered: - truffle fries: standard, whet the appetit - bone in short rib: American pot roast style, not Korean style. The vegetables could have used a bit more charring and seasoning but the roast was tender - salmon quinoa bowl: the salmon was thin and dry and meh and the rest of it was meh - Mediterranean salad with salmon: same issue with the salmon and it contained huge pieces of uncooked and undressed beefsteak tomato and cucumber. For $18 can I get an heirloom tomato? Overall just meh. Logistics: - indoor and outdoor seating - limited street parking nearby - many vegetarian options read more

See all

Great coffee!! Staff friendly and efficient. But the pancakes were too dense, like eating stale bread. Please take note chef and do a traditional light, fluffy pancake!! read more

Delicious burger and lots of options for gluten free and sides. The chicken shawarma with hummus was great too. Cool vibe

The food here is pretty good. Not sure why I got a wrap because I could make it at home, but the breakfast scrambles and pancakes my friends got were delicious. The servers were also nice and accommodated the large group I was with. The space too is amazing perfect for morning study time, happy hour, dinner etc! They have fire pits outside too for evening. read more

Second Nature - Chicken Greek Wrap - Breakfast & Brunch Near Me - San Diego, California

Second Nature is a solid PB restaurant - definitely a local's favorite. I've sat down for a meal and also gotten to go several times and it's always been consistent, healthy, and delicious. My favorite plate has always been the green hummus plate - it has soooo much good stuff. Would definitely recommend this spot, it's a good bang for your buck! Also a great place for computer work/studying. read more

Second Nature - To go sweet potato fries and chicken salad - Breakfast & Brunch Near Me - San Diego, California

See all

It's located on a busy street but loved the indoor/outdoor bar seating concept. The crowds kept the staff busy so they weren't as attentive but the quality of food was great. read more

Second Nature - Smoked Lox Benedict - Breakfast & Brunch Near Me - San Diego, California

See all

This is a local favorite even my dog loves it. They have little dog treats and this is my dogs first stop when we go on a walk. We live across the street and although I don't go here too often because food it kinda pricey, when I do it's the perfect meal! Service is always great, food is good and people even come here to work. It's a great spot! read more

Second Nature is located in Pacific Beach, not on the main Garnet strip, but a little always. It's a little hidden, but once you find it, you'll be happy. We went for Dinner time (after 2pm). They have great selections for Vegan/Meat eater options. It wasn't too busy, so we were sat and served right away. The Vegan Hot Wangs and Green Hummas Plate were great starters. The portions were very shareable. I enjoyed my Chicken Club Sandwhich (I didn't like how fries were extra $$). I tried the Orange Cauliflower. The crunchy exterior was sweet and crispy. Everything made taste very fresh. read more

See all

Second Nature is an open air café and bar with a very open patio and a more enclosed interior dining area. Free Wi-Fi and ample space means you can hang out and get work done (or not) while enjoying various alcoholic and nonalcoholic libations and food. I would best describe the food as California cuisine. I had a Matcha latte, lettuce wraps, and wings, all of which were pretty good. Service was also very friendly. Far enough from the beach that street parking is not too difficult much of the time. read more

See all

We went for Sunday brunch and ordered South La Jolla burrito and a bacon burger. Both meals were delicious. Draft beer (rotating) and sparkling wine paired well with food and casual outdoor patio seating. Service was very good and waitstaff helpful and attentive. read more

Wow. Yes the service is wonderful, they're lovely and kind, but this food is the starrrr of the show. Healthy and will fill you up but definitely not weigh you down. These photos were from two separate occasions. One for dinner and one for breakfast. I should also mention they have a mimosa flight which is sooo yummy! The orange cauliflower plate is divine, I get it almost every time. Also the heaters do keep it warm on cold nights. Can't wait to be back! read more

Second Nature - Orange Cauliflower - Breakfast & Brunch Near Me - San Diego, California

See all

The service was great here our server was super nice and welcoming. However the food was nothing special. I thought the dish I got was kind of bland and could have used more seasoning of some sort. I also got a Bloody Mary and I feel like you could go else where to get a better one for a cheaper price. read more

Second Nature - Breakfast & Brunch Near Me - San Diego, California

Three stars but just barely. It looked great and the menu seemed fantastic. We sat outside and it was nice. They had heaters and it was a nice atmos. When we ordered and the server brought drinks and straws and just sort of plopped and tossed things and it seemed as if she were put out. So much so that my sister, a professional chef, asked her if she was angry. The server said, "No," and apologized for seeming "not happy." She took our order and my sister made it clear that we could order apps and mains at the same time but to hold the mains until we were finished the apps. The artichoke cakes were delicious and the chicken lettuce wraps were outstanding. The problem was.. we were served the mains before the apps were done which was exactly what we asked not to have happen. There was a young lady that helped our server with the mains and there was not enough room in the table for all the apps, plates, and the mains so it was a mess. No one seemed to care. Food was just shoved into any empty space on the table. My guest said he guessed he'd be finishing his appetizer and eat a cold hamburger which he did. He said it was tasty but to be served a burger that had to sit as he finished his app is just wrong. No. It's bad service. My tacos were cold as well. The one I took home tasted better today in the microwave than it did last night. I'm sorry to sound harsh, but it just was not a goodnight. Food was 4-star. Service was 2-star. Hard to make it "must go" kinda place. Over all the food was tasty but there was a lot left over because it was cold while we were finishing the appetizers. Not fun. They must have been short handed and we didn't see the server much and had to get our own to go boxes from the service station. Overall not a great place tonight and we had such high hopes. read more

See all

Had a lovely Sunday Brunch out on the patio with my friend and her dog. I got the greens scramble which was delicious, and subbed in the fruit instead of potatoes, which then came as a decent size plate. It's nice that they have the fans to keep away the bugs. The patio is the perfect mix of shaded but outdoors and breezy. I also had a delicious ginger tumeric iced latte. read more

My 2nd visit. I was so hyped!! I ordered my Buddha bowl with salmon to go... half way into the salad, I found a long black hair!!!! Gross!!! Too far to go back! Threw it out! Wish there was more Stricter kitchen protocol to avoid this from happening. read more

Ohhh second nature what a disappointment you are. Walked in for lunch on a Wednesday afternoon. Sat at the bar for quick service. There was a group of four staff standing behind the bar and not a single one of them acknowledged us. Behind us a large party walked in as well. I overheard one of the staff members be in shock of the amount of people that had just walked through the door. Again, we were not acknowledged, not even offered water as we sat at the bar. The staff pretended to be busy with paperwork and whatever else they were doing. Another girl walked away and then the other girl walked away. Finally I spoke to the guy and said " hi can we please get some water". And, he responded "I actually don't work here". To which I said "well that's confunsing!" We should have left at that point but we didn't. Ordered a Chicken pesto sandwich on sourdough. The pesto was overpowering and the sourdough quite buttery but overall tasty. Overall, the vibe on a weekday afternoon is over age women dressed in fitness clothes, black boy caps, taking up space, pretending to be in their 30s. Puke. Gross. Not my scene. Stay away if you can. Additionally, there are a lot of flies. And, their stupid little fans don't help at all! 2 Stars because the food is good but the service & ambiance are not. read more

Second Nature - Menu September 2024 - Breakfast & Brunch Near Me - San Diego, California

See all

Very good vegetarian options. I had the Coconut Thai Curry, delicious. Casual service and clean and open space. read more

Second Nature - Coconut Thai Curry - Breakfast & Brunch Near Me - San Diego, California

Such a cute place in my neighborhood and one of my go to spots to take visitors. They have a great outdoor patio with a fire pit in addition to indoor seating. Dog friendly. Love their brunch, sandwiches, wraps and burgers. Happy hour also has a few dollars off wine and beer! read more

Enjoyed a great brunch in the patio at Second Nature today. Perfect San Diego weather and great food served with friendly service. Macadamia Nut Latte, Kids Açaí Bowl, Short Rib Benedict, Benedict Artichoke, and a Green Scramble - all served fresh and very tasty. This was our first visit, but we'll be back! read more

See all

Boy, have I missed vegan food from California---SoCal especially! My sister and I took an Uber from downtown San Diego to Pacific Beach just so we could indulge in some nutritious and tasty vegan dishes for a super late lunch. It was practically dinner by the time we sat down and started munching, given that our body clocks were still on CST and not PST! We each got an appetizer so we can sample off eachother's plates. I got the Orange Cauliflower and my sister got the Vegan Wangz. To balance it out, I got the Mediterranean Salad as my entrée, which came with romaine, arugula, green hummus, cucumber, tomato, fried paprika chickpeas, kalamata olives, and tahini vinaigrette. I was a super fan of the cauliflower appetizer, since it was drenched with orange sauce and a delicious breaded coating. I was also a fan of the wangz since they did have a spicy kick to them, and a scrumptious, cooling accompanying sauce. My salad was delicious as well, thanks to the avocado hummus scoop, but I was unable to finish it due to getting full from the cauliflower. I guess that's how it goes with appetizers! It was a bit chilly outside with the wind, but the patio seating was open and spacious. There were lots of cute dogs roaming around too! read more

See all

We came on a Friday, sat at the bar. Bartender was so sweet and pleasant! We ordered an iced tea and a vanilla latte, both were good. Food was amazing and their potatoes were delicious and crispy! Definitely my fave spot in PB. read more

Second Nature - Breakfast & Brunch Near Me - San Diego, California

I live around the corner, and I go to 2nd nature at least a few times a month. What I like about this place is that it's a great spot to go either to get some work done on your computer, or to have breakfast or lunch with friends. The ambiance works perfectly for both. It's also very affordable for San Diego! I usually get a dirty chai or a matcha latte, both of which are great and reasonably priced. They have a full bar also, but I haven't drank anything alcoholic here. In terms of food, everything I've ordered has been solid. The burgers are delicious, as are the truffle fries. I really liked the ancient grains with tofu or chicken. The salads are a good size if you're feeling hungry- I especially like the surf chicken one. My friend loves the chicken lettuce wraps, but they were a little too wet for me (not sure how else to explain it haha). My friends have tried and enjoyed their breakfast items. The waiters are all super chill and friendly. They're helpful without being overbearing or fake. I like their general vibe. Most of all, I'm a big fan of the outdoor seating. They have umbrellas to provide shade, while still letting in plenty of sunshine. Go check it out and you'll get what I mean. :) read more

Second Nature - Omelette and Mediterranean Salad - Breakfast & Brunch Near Me - San Diego, California

This spot is great for healthy, yet tasty food in a really great environment. Gluten free and vegetarian/vegan food aplenty on this menu. From grass fed burgers, to salads and grilled fish dishes; this spot has something for everyone.. We went on wine Wednesday and it was a few bucks off a glass of wine, which was nice. We enjoyed the dog friendly patio on a beautiful night. Prices ranged, but for protein dish it checked in about that $20+ range. The Thai curry with grilled salmon was so much food. It was comforting and delicious, with vegetables and salmon on a bed of quinoa. Not spicy, but subtle flavor, letting the creamy coconut milk shine thru. The orange cauliflower was more of a sweet & sour, and the mushroom hot wangs were interesting. Overall, by no means your most unique, boundary pushing restaurant, but if you're trying to stay healthy or accommodate dietary restrictions, and still enjoy a nice night out, this is a great spot. read more

See all

Solid lunch or brunch spot. I love coming here when I don't feel like cooking but want something healthy. Great wine choices and even better food options! I recommend ordering a few entrees and sharing them with friends. The service can be slow sometimes, but the food makes up for it. Also, very dog friendly! So many cute puppers whenever I come here read more

This spot has always been one of my go to spots to enjoy a light bite while working and typically ending with a glass of wine as well. During the morning and afternoon there are typically quite a few people working here and I will say their wifi connection is great so why not get out of the house for a few hours and work from a different spot for anyone who works from home. The most recent time I went I decided to go for something simple and did the plain avocado toast and added some scrambled eggs and a side of bacon to have something easy to snack on. I have also tried their eggs benedict for brunch as well but I really love their dinner menu but I always seem to be here a little too early for that one. I will have to come back for dinner soon, I love the vibe with indoor and outdoor seating options and the spot is dog friendly which I always love! read more

See all

If you're looking for a brunch spot by the beach, no reservation necessary, Second Nature will always be that place! They've got a stacked menu and bottomless mimosas if desired. Service is fast and you're not waiting long for food to come out once ordered. Their short rib with the chimichurri was the highlight for our group and the plate with eggs is a large portion! Definitely could be shared. Love coming back every time. read more

See all

Overall enjoyed our experience at second nature! They have a very modern and cozy outdoor patio (with heaters), making it a nice place to catch up with friends. Lots of healthy food options -- tasted good too! Have had better American type cuisine but it was tasty nonetheless. Server was wonderful and service was fast and accurate! Overall, would recommend especially if you're looking for a more casual vibe or a lighter/healthier option for eating out. read more

See all

We really enjoyed Second Nature. We were visiting San Diego and wanted something healthier for breakfast than our previous choice (Olive Cafe, which was quite greasy). Second Nature's excellent Yelp reviews and aesthetically pleasing website and images compelled us to stop by. The ambiance is really nice. It's very beachy and the indoor-outdoor environment is really nice. We sat outside which was so refreshing! Katie was our server, she was the epitome of a great server. Friendly, helpful and attentive. The menu is not that of your typical restaurant, there's so many different options such as Vegan and other "healthier" options. The food was a mixed bag but mostly positive. I thought my iced coffee was a bit too strong. However, the food was mostly OK. My Mom got the Basic Breakfast which she really enjoyed. My Dad got the Cali Brah Omelet which he loved, I snuck a bite and it was really good. I got the Lox Benedict which I didn't really love, the Lox had a weird texture to me. I ordered the Mixed Berry French Toast as a replacement and it was absolutely amazing. Sweet and soft! One thing I loved was how beautifully everything was presented. Overall, I would definitely come back to Second Nature. Beautiful atmosphere, a very sweet server and mostly good food, presented beautifully. read more

See all

Loved the cauliflower tacos!! Local taps are fantastic. Love the dog friendly outdoor patio. Great place to meet friends

Stopped by this spot on a slow Monday night for a bite. We seated ourselves on their nice outdoor patio with two other tables at the time and a few people at the bar. We saw a number of staff behind the bar working but it did take a solid 5 minutes for someone to come to our table. We were finally given menus and water and were able to order. I ordered the ginger turmeric juice, which I found to taste overwhelmingly like plain orange juice. Would not recommend getting that if you wanted a more ginger and/or turmeric taste like the name of the drink suggests. For food, we ordered the cheeseburger, named "The Best Burger in North PB" and the Grilled Chicken Shawarma. We ended up fighting over the burger, because although on the greasier side, it was tasty. Note that any side for the burger is extra, including fries. The grilled chicken shawarma was a big disappointment for us. The plate had a lot of food, but it was filled with mostly quinoa and lettuce. They gave us probably a quarter of a chicken breast to eat - very disappointing for the price. Ultimately, I am happy I tried this place because it does look good and is typically fairly busy, but I would not go again after dining here myself. read more

See all