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    Thornton Cafeteria

    2.5 (19 reviews)
    InexpensiveCafeteria
    Open 6:30 am - 8:00 pm

    Thornton Cafeteria Photos

    THORNTON CAFETERIA ATMOSPHERE

    What's the vibe?
    Moderate noise
    Casual
    Good for kids
    Outdoor seating

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    Recommended Reviews - Thornton Cafeteria

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    Cheeseburgers are sooooo good!
    Mary K.

    Cafeteria food gets a bad reputation, but I promise this place is awesome! I forget to bring a lunch with me to work quite often, so I'm pretty thankful for this place. Sometimes there's pizza, sometimes there's bbq tri tip?! This cafeteria isn't basic like one might think. If you're coming for breakfast, the açaí bowls are amazing. They're very generous on the fresh fruit. You can go the bacon and eggs route or you can go the chicken and waffle route, take your pick. Lunch time, my favorites are the cheeseburgers, tri tip, enchiladas, fresh from the oven pizza or the veggie wraps. When it's 3 o clock and time for a snacky snack, I love coming here for some ice cream! They have a great selection. When it's 7 in the morning and I'm running on 2 hours of sleep, I love the cold brew that's served here! Everyone is very friendly and the prices aren't bad either. Don't be scared to try this place!

    Bug found in my coffee after spitting it out.
    Yalda Y.

    Do not buy coffee from here!! I don't usually get it from here because I've had bad experience with their food in several occasions. But I really needed some coffee this morning and it was a closer walk for me to come here. Grabbed my coffee and was drinking it when suddenly something crunchy is in between my teeth. I spat it out and see a bug!! Not only am I completely turned off by this cafeteria's food but now their coffee. Absolutely unacceptable.

    Rock hard chicken pesto pizza
    Chris L.

    Bought pizza today while at the hospital. The chicken was rock hard. Must have been sitting under the heat lamp all day. Should have tried the bbq chicken instead.

    The Cove
    Sean L.

    Solid hospital cafeteria. Breakfast they have a grill and hot food, granola bar, and a variety of off-the-shelf items. Lunch they have hot food typically 3 different item choices, a grill, a deli, and a specialty section that changes M-F (see photo). Prices are reasonable and the quality is decent. Best options are the grill/deli, they do pork very well in the hot foods but stay away from seafood, ramen & pasta specialty section days are the best. Workers are friendly and helpful, quite good food for a hospital!

    The outside area of the cafeteria. Looking down from the Thornton West side.
    Carlo R.

    This cafeteria is OK...​ it's nothing special to be honest. It is nice to have the option of getting something to eat when you are visiting someone in the hospital to hold you over. As a patient, be sure to ask the kitchen for the daily specials as they also handle "The Market" menu for in hospital​ patients.

    Half a Sammich $3.50
    Yvonne C.

    Cove Cafe also known as the Thornton Cafeteria, is pretty legit, let's just say I have a lot of experience on Hospital Cafeteria food. As Cafeteria it's pretty top notch, they have several stations to choose from depending on what piques your taste buds and what time of the day you are here. At breakfast time, they always have Oatmeal, Cream of Wheat and Menudo ( I haven't tried it but peeps say it's good). They have all the fixins too, for the hot cereals, craisens, cinnamon, granola, brown sugar, and all the menudo stuff like, lemon, cilantro, onion and chili flakes. I usually get the oatmeal, good deal for about $1.50. They also have eggs, potatoes, biscuit&gravy, bacon, sausage at the steam table, at the grill the Chefs can hook you up with a omelet, pancakes, breakfast burrito etc. Lunch time it can get pretty crazy, because of the different stations people are just bumping into each other like a pinball machine, I have stranger danger so I avoid the peak lunch craze. The favorites for me is the Chicken pozole which they have on Wednesdays in the soup station, their wraps are pretty damn good, I always get mine toasted, you can also get a half a sandwich since they are pretty big. In the salad station my fav are the green beans with almonds, the broccoli with mandarin oranges and the butternut squash raviolis. At the grill, you can get hamburgers and fries, grilled chicken sandwich, etc. The steam table is always a surprise, one day they had pancit, I didn't try it but it looked legit. Almost forgot, they have a Pizza oven where this Hottie can hook up your own personal pizza, he's always smiling too. All the staff seem to like their job, trust and believe I've seen some salty employees at other Hospital Cafeterias. Great outside patio as well as a huge sitting section in the back.

    Salmon, veggies, and grains

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    2 years ago

    If you are looking for a great breakfast in a Hospital, you want to try Thornton Hospital. Great food, wonderful staff......

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    6 years ago

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    8 years ago

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    9 years ago

    Dry, tasteless, bland, unhealthy food. save your money and eat someplace else with free parking.

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    7 years ago

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    Park Social

    Park Social

    4.3(635 reviews)
    6.1 miKearny Mesa
    $$

    SAN DIEGO LIVING AT ITS BEST So impressed with the multi-use of this space! It's surrounded by so…read moremany apartment complexes but you don't feel like it. Across the street has a mini park for walking, workouts or pups. PARKING we came by at 1pm on Thursday so we got the free 1 hour parking out front. Otherwise, I bet this place fills up. They did have paid parking on the street as well. FOOD I saw the loco moco was popular so my husband got that. He said it was good but isn't as mind blowing as the one at Wonderland in OB. I got the fish tacos as the employee suggested it. They were m absolutely delicious! Perfect crunch with the added veggies and the chipotle sauce on top was I didn't add the sauce in the cup because it was a bit too spicy DRINK My husband got a Pepsi zero and I had a matcha with blueberry. My matcha was delicious. SERVICE I can tell our meals were freshly made bc it took 10 min to get our food. Pretty quick considering my fish tacos were fried. In terms of cleanliness, the team members quickly bussed tables after customers finished and everywhere looked super clean. This is such a vibey place where you could work on your laptop, share a meal with a few friends or enjoy a drink at the outside patio with the beautiful sunshine.

    I'm been to this cool coffee shop with a beer fountain a few times and this sums up my experience…read more It's usually pretty packed given. The proximity to the apartment buildings nearby and seating is sometimes a premium. I like sitting on the porch and watching the people and wrapped with their pets to nearby Field Park. Sampled a few of the beers and sangria on tap with an açaí bowl. It's a little spendy, but a nice time. My last visit was with my wife and a friend and we were able to score a seat outside, which was good if you're in the area, I would definitely recommend.

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    Park Social
    Park Social
    Park Social

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    94th Aero Squadron Restaurant & Events - WEEKEND CHAMPAGNE BRUNCH BUFFET

    94th Aero Squadron Restaurant & Events

    3.3(1.9k reviews)
    6.6 miKearny Mesa
    $$$$
    Established in 1976
    Full bar

    I had such a fantastic experience at the 94th Aero Squadron Restaurant in San Diego and I can…read morehonestly say this is one of the best buffet experiences I've ever had. First of all, the theme is absolutely awesome. The restaurant is beautifully decorated with World War II military memorabilia everywhere you look, and it really feels like you're stepping into another era. On top of that, it's located right on the tarmac of Montgomery-Gibbs Executive Airport which made the experience even more unique. I loved being able to sit there and watch planes land and take off while enjoying brunch. I went on a Sunday for their all you can eat brunch buffet and had an amazing time. The selection was incredible and honestly overwhelming in the best way possible. They had a carving station with sirloin steak and lamb, an omelette station, barbecue ribs, meatloaf, Mac & cheese, mashed potatoes with all kinds of different gravies including melted butter, fried rice, egg rolls, you name it! There was an entire row of fresh fruit, a huge variety of seafood including crab legs, and an impressive assortment of soups, vegetables, meats, and cheeses. Breakfast lovers will be happy too because they had waffles with fresh homemade whipped cream, eggs, eggs Benedict, bacon (and tons of it), sausage, and so much more. Dessert was next level. Brownies, madeleines, an assortment of chocolate truffles, mini chocolate donuts, and even mini containers of Häagen-Dazs ice cream in strawberry and chocolate flavors. I tried to pace myself, but it was impossible not to overdo it. They also had a nice drink selection, including slushy machines, chocolate milk, and various juices. The buffet came with three glasses of champagne, and the service was excellent. Our servers were very attentive, quick to check on us, and made sure our champagne glasses stayed full. The restaurant itself is wonderfully decorated and I absolutely loved all the military memorabilia. The theme is super cute and really well done. Between the atmosphere, the food, and watching the planes, it made for such a fun and memorable experience. Now, the buffet is definitely on the pricey side. In my opinion, $68 per person is expensive, especially since there is an automatic 15% gratuity added when you walk in. That $68 price applies to Saturday and Sunday. However, the server did let us know that weekday brunch from Monday through Friday is $28. It is slightly more limited compared to the weekend buffet but still very good according to our server. I cannot wait to go back! I thoroughly enjoyed myself, ate way too much, and was so full I could barely move for two days lol. Totally worth it for the experience, the atmosphere, and the incredible variety of food. LOVE this place!

    Pretty bummed, not going to lie. 94th is simply a shell of what it once was especially since I…read morefive-starred 94th under a year ago. So why? Good question. A few things. I don't love the pay as you arrive process. I don't think it has always been this way but I could be wrong. Either way, I don't like it. The price is grossly inflated for what you get. At over $70 a person you can get a stellar brunch just about anywhere in town. 3 mimosas only. I do not recall this being standard and I absolutely despise it. Here is the thing, I was not told this and didn't see it advertised anywhere. A side effect of this is that the servers (already grumpy as can be) avoid your table like the plague when they thing you've had your three. I haven't even taken my first bite of food yet by the time I take down three mimosas. Once a brunch place, now a Friday night club, the focus has shifted for 94th. Not really a fan, which is a damn shame.

    Photos
    94th Aero Squadron Restaurant & Events - WEEKEND CHAMPAGNE BRUNCH BUFFET

    WEEKEND CHAMPAGNE BRUNCH BUFFET

    94th Aero Squadron Restaurant & Events - PATIO SEATING

    PATIO SEATING

    94th Aero Squadron Restaurant & Events - GRILLED YELLOWTAIL

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    GRILLED YELLOWTAIL

    Pop Pie

    Pop Pie

    4.5(1.8k reviews)
    9.5 miUniversity Heights
    $$

    Delicious, surprisingly light on the stomach, in the textures and flavors have that homemade vibe…read more I got the chicken pot pie and the apple pie slice. The lady at the counter said that a lot of people say the apple pie slice is better than Julian's apple pie. I think that if it were as fresh as the Julian one, I would agree but because the slice tasted like it have been sitting there for at least six hours, maybe even overnight, I would just say that it's a really good slice of apple pie. It has a crumb topping, which is a nice addition which the Juliann apple pie does not have. The filling is chunky and very brown sugar-y which makes it very delicious. The ice cream was also good. The chicken pot pie was my favorite though. So warm, and the crust was nice and flaky. The portion is really good. That was my dinner and it was the perfect amount. The inside had a generous amount of chicken which I really appreciated overall. It's such a comforting food and I love that. It doesn't taste like it's 1,000,000 cal. It was $13 for the pot pie, which is a little much but considering that it's pretty big and filling as a meal I wouldn't say that it's toooo bad.

    Unfortunately they took away my absolute favorite thing from the menu, the beloved Aussie pie. I…read morewas craving for an Aussie pie so bad but it's discontinued now. I used to go out of my way and get it, but nonetheless the other pies are also just as good. The classic chicken is my second fav, then followed by the green hog pie. The coffee here is also good, but the sausage roll was quite average. Service is always great, and food is always brought out hot and fresh.

    Photos
    Pop Pie - View of food case and interior seating

    View of food case and interior seating

    Pop Pie - (D) Pumpkin Cream Cheese Pie - Slice

    (D) Pumpkin Cream Cheese Pie - Slice

    Pop Pie - Inside

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    Inside

    Thornton Cafeteria - cafeteria - Updated May 2026

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