The whole experience was way better because of Sam! He took care of us and had great communication skills. What stood out most was his professionalism and positive attitude. Even during a busy time, Sam remained calm, friendly, and efficient, making sure any small issues were handled quickly and with a smile. It's rare to see that level of dedication and leadership. read more

Food was wonderful! Portions are big and great to share! We had the caffe alla arabica to drink and we loved it! Great service as well, food was brought out very quickly. The outdoor seating is beautiful and perfect for anytime of day. read more

Tabac+ - Mediterranean Near Me - San Diego, California

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My first meal here was with their huge breakfast! Early 2025 after they had opened. I believe they served 14 items or so and unfortunately they no longer offer that. (my many pictures are missing from Yelp for some reason) Came back 2 more times with my brother and his wife and ordered so many items and did family style. (those photos are missing too) Couldn't be more pleased with the freshness of the food, the staff attitude and welcoming presence and the decor. No complaints at all, just wish it wasn't always so busy. LOL read more

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Great food, service and hookah! Music and vibes were spot on Server Ahmet was amazing!! We will definitely be back and this is not our first time here but every time better than the one before. I'm glad you guys are in San Diego. I wish I can give you more than five stars read more

Tabac+ - Hookah bar - Mediterranean Near Me - San Diego, California

Holy moly this place is a whole vibe. I attended a family style dinner with Yelp elite the other night and I have to admit the red carpet is rolled out for every guest that comes here from the minute. You walk down the side and see all the work that's gone into setting up the experience. I would say wonderful to take big groups. I would also say if you're on a chill evening and you wanna have a great place to talk it wasn't too loud you could hear conversations and it was open air I will definitely be visiting again when I'm in the neighborhood read more

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11/10 Before I visited this establishment, I saw a few negative comments online that didn't seem to match the atmosphere I experienced while I was there. For starters, they do not serve alcohol, and some of the so-called "Yelp Elite" reviewers appeared to be in a rush and didn't seem to understand the cultural style of dining this restaurant represents -- especially at a place where hookah is served at almost every table. To other readers, I would encourage you to check the bios of people leaving those reviews and see whether they provide any meaningful reasoning beyond simply saying they didn't like it. Often, people with very little world travel find themselves in positions of influence online. As a well-traveled man in my 30s who has spent time in several countries across Africa, the Middle East, Europe, and other regions, I can say this is an excellent place to branch out if you want to experience food from another culture. To yelp reviewers - If alcohol is your biggest concern, then you should probably go to a bar. Not every experience needs to feel like a rushed McDonald's visit. If you call yourself a Yelp Elite reviewer, you should at least have the palate and awareness to appreciate other cultures and dining styles or not allow your preferences to trash a business in the comments. Now to the actual review. If you would like to experience shisha (hookah) the way it was meant to be enjoyed, alongside flavorful Middle Eastern food rich with culture, polite staff, and an ambiance that feels like a high-quality outdoor lounge, this is the spot for you. The website is excellent, and you can easily make reservations ahead of time through Apple Maps or by calling. When you arrive, you're greeted at the entrance and politely escorted to a comfortable table. They even provide blankets on the chairs for when the temperature drops in the evening, along with standing fire pillars that keep the tables warm. Staff are very attentive and friendly. I tried several items on the menu and wasn't disappointed by a single one -- excellent quality, amazing flavor, and great presentation across the board. The food was so good that at one point I forgot to take photos to share with you all. I personally ordered and ate the Burrata Blossom, Kofte Hummus, and Kunefe. The non-alcoholic drinks are delicious. The hookah flavors are also great, with options for different liquid bases, fruit bowls, ice, and ice-tip hoses. If you're looking for great food and an outdoor lounge environment where you can have an intimate conversation while enjoying shisha, this is absolutely the place. I've spent a substantial amount of my adult life in the Middle East -- over a cumulative year -- experiencing different cultures and foods. This place genuinely captures the feeling of sitting in a restaurant in another country. I plan to visit again! 11/10 read more

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Literally 2 hours with out charcoal for our hookah Too many employees not of them knowing what they doing Very nice place but the service very bad read more

Tabac+ - Mediterranean Near Me - San Diego, California

Food was incredibly delicious and very fresh and authentic. Service left a lot to be desired as we kept having to flag down our server and ask to order additional items and have our glasses refilled. The atmosphere is really cozy and welcoming and invites you to linger over your meal, but the sign on the menu will remind you that you need to vacate the table after 2 hours, which I found a little off and off putting. It's why I took off a star. read more

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I tried giving the food a chance by ordering the entire menu , everything tasted like tv dinners. The service was horrible along with the hookah. Never again read more

The food here was awesome! A first time for me trying Turkish foods and I really enjoyed the different flavor profiles of each of the dishes we tried. My husband and I shared the Mezze Platter which allowed us to sample several Mediterranean appetizers and all of it was amazing! Would definitely recommend trying this place out! read more

Definitely come in for Happy Hour. A wonderful happy hour menu. Please note, no alcohol is served. They do have wonderful mocktails that even came out smoked. We started with the Tulum Garden salad with pops of pomegranate seeds, tulum cheese, and golden raisins to name a few ingredients. So fresh. Followed by Cig Kofte Rolls. My favorite of the night might be the Borek on Feta Flaky spinach börek served on a warm cloud of whipped feta and labneh, crowned with golden pine nuts Definitely will be back to try out the brunch and dinner menus. The service was friendly. Sitting outside with the greenery and soft cushions was perfect. read more

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Returned here after my terrible experience trying to get in around when it was opening. Was really excited to have some Turkish food after just traveling to Istanbul. The menu is full of authentic Turkish dishes. Plates are on the larger side, and seam more created for sharing than as an entree. I had the Çökertme Kebabı which I did enjoy, though I felt like the meat flavor was a bit lost in the dish. Started off with yogurt soup which came for free. Not really my favorite, bit bland. We got a mezze platter to share which had 5 or so different dips, but oddly only came with 5 small triangles of pita. Not nearly enough to actually eat with the dip. We weren't able to flag any waiter down to actually ask for more pita. To note, there is no alcohol here, so don't come looking for that. Hookah is going to be prevalent, so come prepared to smell that as well. There are some interesting drinks on the mocktail menu. I went for one that was recommended, very cool presentation with glass and smoke, but it was really extremely sweet and also had glitter in it, which was not something I wanted to drink. Service was on the slower side and not much of an opportunity to ask for something if anything was missing. Took a long time to get our check and pay. Most of the restaurant is outside, so also keep the weather in mind. Overall I feel like there's still a lot of potential here, but I think the food, drinks, and service could still use some improvement. read more

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This place is so cool. So cool. Their restaurant is outside, but there are plenty of heated lamps so don't worry about it being cold. They also provide these cool red blankets per chair, so you can wrap it around yourself with it and keep yourself warm. As you walk in, you feel like youve been immediately transported somewhere in the middle east, on some beach front restaurant. Ambiance is amazing and decor is on point. Their hookah menu is EXTENSIVE; its even sectioned by flavors, like sweet or sour or savory. We ended up with the candy flavor. It was sweet and tangy, we loved it. The shisha's at this restaurant do a great job in starting it and maintaining it, often coming by to replace the coal. TRUFFLE CHICKEN: Grilled to perfection, slightly charred and so moist inside. You HAVE to get this. Their rice is also fluffy, and long grained I think because its chewy. I don't know what they mix with their rice, but the flavors are amazing. KOFTE HUMMUS: Great appetizer and it comes with fresh flat bread. Friendly service. This place is great for date nights, after work events or birthdays. read more

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The food was good. The service was slow and we got some dishes that came with our entrees which confused me and my friends. The staff just brought it to us without explaining what it was. It was a yogurt dish. We didn't get a chance to ask ourselves because we were confused haha. The ambiance is really nice. Apparently you can smoke hookah while you're there too. It's located where the former carrot cellars used to be. It was a friend's birthday and they played a birthday song and gave us some dessert. They even gave her a small gift of tea which I thought was a nice touch. I loved that. read more

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Came here to celebrate a wedding anniversary. The space use to be an urban wine tasting room. They have definitely revamped the space. The space itself is beautiful and very clean. We made a reservation on the website. came down a little early since parking in the area could be tough. We were seated prior our reservations planning to grab drinks before. Unfortunately they do not sell alcohol. They offer 3 mock-tails on the menu. Tea and coffee is also offered. I got the chicken plate my husband got the lamb plate. The dish itself was ok, I won't say it's worth the price though, 1 kabob and sides that includes rice, salad and thin pita. We got a variety of toppings such as pickled red onions, hummus just to name a few. Service was good. Got our orders delivered it and gave us our check. Nothing to rave about. Since it was our anniversary I thought we would get more energy from the waiter usually restaurants acknowledge these things when they have you put an occasion down on the reservation. Would i recommend probably not since we have so many options in SD. If you like hookah would be a spot to check out. read more

Tabac+ - Dinner for 2 - Mediterranean Near Me - San Diego, California

I was impressed.. some regional dishes and amazing appetizers. I would say very close to traditional flavors I am used to. We had the mixed appetizer plate and pinsa to start.. everything was delicious.. mixed appetizer offers a great tasting opportunity.. then we selected Almond chicken (reminds me some Indian dishes) nicely prepared.. Cokertme is my kind of kebab.. highly recommend. (Lamb based) Ambiance is amazing.. loved both indoor and outdoor.. but outdoor is fascinating.. since our son was not allowed to sit there we were Inside. Well decorated in contemporary setting. Service was great. Thanks Alihan .. will be back! read more

Amazing food and wow, what a beautiful place!! We did a walk in on a Saturday morning and we were able to get inside seats almost immediately. If you're looking for outdoor seatings, you'll probably need to rsvp ahead of time. The decor both inside and out were cozy and modern. We ordered the the Turkish breakfast for 2 and Arabic coffee for 2 and that was more than enough. If you go with 3 people the portion of food would still be enough, perhaps just order an extra shashuka (eggs). My favorite in the spread were breads and all of the jams and cheeses. The salty olive taste blend with the sweet jams and soft cheese created such a well blended balanced taste and finish that with the fresh vinaigrette tomatoes and cucumbers were quite refreshing and satisfying. Service was attentive and speaks quality. Parking can be challenging so we ended up parking at the of the Aces parking lot for $20. Overall amazing experience and I would definitely go again. read more

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Perfect place to lounge, drink tea, and hookah. We had a group of 9 and easily seated right away on a Friday night. The menu is diverse, no alcohol but various hot and cold drinks available as well as food and breakfast items. Happy hour available too. Cay Alla Turca, the black tea was very earthy and warm and surprisingly paired well with the hookah. Hookah is very smooth and abundant. Chai tea latte was another favorite. Sultans affogato available for coffee and ice cream lovers. My only complaint about it was I didn't really like the rose petal texture. Service was excellent from start to finish. Ambiance is casual but can be a nice birthday celebration place if you are going for low key but aesthetically pleasing coffee lounge vibes. read more

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Love this new Turkish hookah lounge. The outdoor patio is stunning. You must reserve in advance or else it will be difficult to find a table. The food was solid, nothing special or extravagant but certainly noteworthy. We tried the dolma and borek on feta. Both were delicious, i would get the borek on feta again. Crunchy, creamy and flaky. Absolutely amazing. The entrees were... not impressive. Nearly $30 for a small amount of protein and mainly rice, salad, and some dips. Sure, flavorful, but note worth $30. The knafe was good but also not traditional as its served with ice cream. The cheese was stretchy which i appreciated. The hookah, at $32, is pretty steep in price when compared to other hookah lounges. However, the quality was very nice. I believe they use Al Fakher and quality "coconut" coals (iykyk). Therefore, if you consider the nice ambience and quality ingredients, it is worth splurging on the hookah. The staff is interesting.. they dont speak english very well and we often felt pressured to decide quickly as our waitress just stood and stared at us for awhile before we told her we needed some time to decide. Otherwise nice people, just interesting. Another downside is our coals were not exchanged frequently. We had to ask and despite that, it took a very long time to get new coals. This is unacceptable and common practice at any hookah lounge is changing the coals frequently as customers do not want to be inhaling burnt coal. With a few tweaks, this spot has amazing potential and despite the small setbacks I would definitely still come back! read more

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Great vibes, great food selection as well as cocktails, coffees etc. Highly recommend Bery friendly and helpful service. Ask for Ahmet, he is the man! read more

Tabac+ - Appetizer plate and a babe - Mediterranean Near Me - San Diego, California

It was my first time here and the place reminds me of a resort! Something like Tulum vibes. I only came for hookah and unfortunately the hookah bowl burned really fast and was harsh. The service is a little slower too. I definitely want to come back for food but for now it's a decent place to come and hookah! 4 stars because the ambiance is really nice and there's not too many nice hookah lounges around downtown. read more

Tabac+ - Mediterranean Near Me - San Diego, California

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My girlfriends & I went here for dinner & hookah. Beautiful outdoor dining with several tables inside too. They have so many servers & they frequently checked in on us. Very friendly service. Make sure to make a resy because although it was empty at opening, it was packed when we left. I have hookah'd a few times in the past but my friends frequently do it, so I let them take the reins on ordering. They have several fruit base options & we chose apple. They have a variety of hookah flavors & they vary by strength so if you do not hookah often, you will want a lesser option. Food was tasty. They serve mocktails only. read more

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4/5 Stars Vibe, flavor, and a touch of chaos We came to Tabac+ in Little Italy for a fun girl's night out and ended up having such a great time! The energy of the place is vibrant and stylish -- think moody lighting, luxe details, and a lively crowd that gives it a lounge-meets-Mediterranean-bistro vibe. We sat at the bar and ordered hookah, which definitely added to the overall experience. The food was incredible. We shared the truffle chicken and the borek, and both were standouts -- perfectly seasoned, flavorful, and plated beautifully. The menu leans toward upscale Turkish fusion, and you can tell everything is made with care. It definitely left us wanting more -- we're already planning a return trip for their Turkish brunch, which we've heard great things about. The only hiccup of the night was with our reservation. I had booked a table on OpenTable for 7pm, and when I called to push it back 30 minutes, the hostess told me they don't accept reservations from OpenTable -- even though I had the confirmation email. It was a bit confusing, and I was approached by several different staff members questioning the reservation's legitimacy. Thankfully, they were able to accommodate us and were very apologetic, but hopefully they get this glitch sorted out going forward. All in all, Tabac+ is a gem -- a great place to eat, unwind, and catch up over amazing food and hookah. The minor reservation mix-up keeps this at 4 stars for now, but the ambiance, dishes, and overall vibe make it well worth a visit. read more

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Tabac+ is a new higher-end combination business in Little Italy featuring a Mediterranean cuisine restaurant, cigar bar, and hookah lounge. Perhaps there were elevated expectations for the opening as several of the reviews were quite pointed. I came on a late night early in the week when it was not as busy. I still made a reservation using their website as a safeguard and didn't encounter any of the difficulties that some others had experienced. The hostess escorted me to a small table in the dining-only room of the facility which could seat a couple of dozen customers. On the way, we passed by the cigar smoking area which was a set of tables in an uncovered, outdoor patio and an indoor lounge which had both dining and hookah vaping capabilities. A coffee/tea bar was across from where I was seated. A QR code was provided at each table to access the menu. Appetizers, pinsa, entrees, and desserts were the food categories. The Cig Kafte Rolls were my pick for a starter. Six pieces of a roll containing bulgar, pomegranate, mint, and spices were wrapped inside a sumac-brushed lavash (flatbread) and sliced like sushi. A sauce was drizzled on top to add more flavor. It was a unique combination for what was essentially a Turkish-style vegetarian roll. For a main dish, my selection was the Shish d'Agnello. This item was a chargrilled lamb skewer marinated with herbs and spices. It was served over Turkish farro on lavash. A trio of mezzes were provided as dips. Two of them contained hummus with different seasonings. The other was a yogurt with olive oil. Pickled onions were also provided to cut through the flavors with an acidic contrast. It was a well-balanced presentation as I asked for the meat to be cooked medium rare which it was. I only wish there was a second skewer included for the price. It seems that the management team took the initial criticisms to heart as the service I received was polite and prompt. As I walked around and snapped photos, I noticed the inventory of cigars and tobacco for the water pipes was extensive. If you want to enjoy a chill evening with elevated food and drink with smoking and/or vaping included, then check out Tabac+. read more

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What a lovely cozy place in the heart of San Diego. Reservations recommended. We ordered quite a few dishes mezze plate was a starter but we realized that all the stuff like hummus the yoghurt and pickled onions come with every dish except the pizzas. We were excited for Cevappi since we had it in Bosnia and were quite disappointed as they weee chewy. The chicken skewer was really tiny. If you notice in the pictures , the platter is full of greens and a tiny piece of meats. Pizzas were the best. Service was not great and they still need more time to make it an efficient flow. Our server seemed a little agitated as I asked a couple of questions regarding the restaurant. Overall an expensive place for the size of the portion. Good for one time experience. The ambience is great though. read more

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Ok so I just went to tabac + I heard from my friends it is the new cool pmiddle eastern place in town so had to try being middle eastern my self First Tabac + is similar owner to Tabac in down town Tabac is only for Hookah Tabac + is dining with Hookah Ambience is modern chic with lots of green I liked the e vibe It is a Turkish place and Tabac means plate :) Located in little Italy Parking : can be challenging especially in weekends Consider Valet parking for 12 dollars few block a way which usually starts at 5:30 Opening hours is from 5 Online reservation is very easy and we went at 5 and we were let in right away and heard it gets crowded later with lines I have to give a shout out to our server Ali very pleasant and friendly and he kept checking on us through out our stay and his recommendations were spot on Now we went for tea and dessert Helwa was delicious and the tea was good We were seated outside but they have inside seatings all nice and modern Outside for Hookah and dining and inside just dining Kids only allowed inside but not outside YES EVERYTHING is HALAL which is a huge plus as I only do halal will come back and try their entree but it did look appealing Prices r reasonable for this part of town Their menu is only QR code only so I suggest to have a paper menus for these people who do not do QR codes I am surprised with 3.5 stars on Yelp as I thought this is 5/5 place. It is new only 3 week old I think it would be great place for Turkish breakfast or brunch too but they only do Dinner Overall great experience and yes you should give it a try and I will go back for the food soon read more

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Service: terrible. Almost non existent Food: cold Chicken: tasted gamey The only good thing is mint lemonade and hummus (without meat) It smelled like pee in the dining area And the restroom doesn't show if it's occupied, hard to open from the inside, makes you feel stuck inside read more

Tabac+ - Truffle chicken - Mediterranean Near Me - San Diego, California

They just opened so giving a little grace but our experience for dinner which we made a reservation for was lacking. We were seated inside up against the counter by the coffee/drinks and it was not comfortable. The food was delicious, no complaints there. Filling and yummy especially the hummus and the entrees we got lamb and beef and the Mezze plate which we enjoyed. The service was not it, we had to flag down our server and waited a bunch in between drinks and he also didn't explain the menu and was confused (again, giving grace since they are new). Also we ordered too much and needed a box and there were a lot of wait staff standing by the drink counter but they weren't our server and didn't know if the restaurant had takeout boxes? I'm sorry, it was awkward. Ambiance is chic but indoor seating was tight and we were seated in the worst spot. I wish we got seated on the patio but all good. Parking in little Italy is terrible, you can valet across the street by juniper and ivy or try the Postino garage if you can't get street parking. Lastly, the menu is QR code only and was lowkey annoying because you couldn't look at everything without clicking into multiple subtabs. Call me old but it would've been nice to also have another way to view the menu more cohesively. Our coffees were fine and came with a delicious Turkish delight, we also got a beautiful $15 mocktail. No alcohol here. Come for the food and they have a hookah bar if you're into that too but no clear where it was and didn't ask this time. read more

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I love this spot. Such a cute lounge feel and transports you straight to the Middle East. The service is great, Ahmed helped us out last night and he's such a great guy. Helped guide us through the menu and the wide variety of hookah options. The food is great, would definitely recommend family style so you get to try everything. read more

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New cute hidden gem with delicious meals, cozy ambiance, friendly staff & good vibez read more

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This place is total chaos on a busy night. Reservations don't mean anything here. There online system will let you make reservations and when you show up you will 45 mins to 1 hour past reservation time if you are lucky. Why not just be transparent and tell the customers that we are at capacity and running super behind when they get there so one can decide if they want to go somewhere else or not?? They keep saying 5 mins, 10 mins, etc lingering you along and before you know it you are 1 hour past your reservation time waiting outside. You see other groups go in who seem to know someone there. Transparency and communication would save a lot of headache. Only reason I'm not giving 1 star the place is cool spot when you do finally get a table. read more

Finally!!! Someone did it right! I've been smoking Hookah for over 20 years and unfortunately most hookah places are not very well run, designed nor inviting BUT this place has it all, great service, great ambiance and really good food! The Hookahs are done properly and professionally, the Turkish breakfast on weekend are amazing and very authentic, if you are looking for a great place in SD area to smoke hookah , look no further, this is it!!! read more

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Love that they opened in little Italy! Pinar provided great service, delicious hookah, and great ambiance. We will definitely be coming back! read more

Came here to try their food, but there was an event so I got desserts to go. Kenefe was delicious and such a delightful dessert that I'll definitely try again. I also tried halwa which was a bit too sweet for my taste. I'm excited to try their dishes next time and update my review read more

So I had the opportunity to try TABAC + in my neighborhood little Italy and it did not disappoint! The drinks were so good although I do have to make sure everybody is aware that these were mocktails . The presentation is just beautiful and I love a good mocktail. They do not serve alcohol. The coffee drinks were also really delicious and beautifully presented. We had a few dishes of food and that was also very good. Had some hookah which haven't done hookah in a long time, but it was definitely a vibe. I feel like this is a great addition to the neighborhood here in Little Italy we need something that's open late night With some great food and good vibes. Can't wait to party here after the party if you haven't tried TABAC + go and try it now. Oh and a quick shoutout too Medhi (sorry if I miss pronounced) he was our waiter and was so knowledgeable and very helpful. read more

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I've been coming to Tabac+ for a while now, and it's easily one of my favorite spots in San Diego. I live in Irvine and still make the drive down at least twice a month--that should say enough on its own. Mohammad runs a solid place, and the service is always on point. Ansar and Alihan usually take care of me and they're consistently attentive without being overbearing. You feel taken care of from the moment you sit down. The hookah is excellent--high quality Ros hookahs and a lot of flavor options. Everything is always clean, smooth, and prepared right. I usually sit in the cigar section, and they always bring an ashtray, cutter, and lighter without me having to ask, which I appreciate. Drinks are great too. Good mocktails, solid coffee and tea options, and the desserts are a must. The knafeh is my go-to and never disappoints. This is a busy establishment and there is a bit of line in the evening on Friday and Saturday night. Definitely make a reservation. If you want hookah, you need to select the outdoor patio. If you don't want smoke, the indoor seating is really nice and comfortable. Overall, this place does things the right way. It is a high-end experience and they pay special attention to the details. Quality product, great service, and a relaxed atmosphere. Always worth the drive. read more

Don't go to this place. The service is terrible and slow. They are not clear on the menu, this is a ripoff Place. The breakfast menu that you see is actually $80 not $40 and if you are more than 2 people you have to order more. Not even enough bread has been served in this restaurant.not worth it at all! read more

Tabac+ - Turkish breakfast - Mediterranean Near Me - San Diego, California

It's a great ambiance and their dishes have impeccable presentation. It has a definite feel of being out of San Diego: no alcohol, coffee and hookah focused, and overall upscale. The service was inattentive and haphazard, mixing up a few of our orders, but I would still go back because of the unique atmosphere that I don't see elsewhere in San Diego. read more

Nice ambience and a friendly atmosphere if you want a hookah spot. I tried their tea/chai karak and it was delicious! Didn't try the food so I cant speak on that. Parking can be a challenge so you have to be patient, it is downtown afterall. read more

Tabac+ - Chai karak (not sure of the spelling) - Mediterranean Near Me - San Diego, California

First time going to this place. Service took a long time. Don't come here if you are hungry. This place is mainly a coffee and hookah joint. No alcohol is served as well. read more