This is the second time I’ve tried this place. I wanted to give it the benefit of the doubt, so I didn’t review it until now. The price point is fairly high for a coffee shop in the middle of a working-class area—$7 for a regular bagel with cream cheese, $7+ for a chai (just tea and milk), $15 granola bowl, etc. The drinks were lackluster at best and, honestly, in my opinion, way too expensive for such a dull, bland drink. To make it even more underwhelming, the place was insanely packed. There was literally no seating, as people were camped out for 5+ hours, so I sat outside—which is fine; it’s San Diego, so the weather is usually great (this was on a weekend at 1 p.m., lol). What kind of sucks is that their outdoor space is right on a main road, so it’s not peaceful at all. I barely found a spot outside, and the space wasn’t relaxing at all, given the location and the fumes from the traffic going by. Oh, and to top it all off, they have very few parking spots. I really wanted to like this place and find a new coffee spot, but I won’t be going back, sadly. Overpriced, overrated, and underwhelming. There are wayyyy better spots for this price point.
Atmosphere: 1
Food: 2
Service: 2
Ian De Graff
Great coffee, great food selection. Cool spot to study or work. Plenty of tables
Atmosphere: 5
Food: 5
Service: 5
Randy Dacus
$15 for the smallest breakfast sandwich you’ve ever seen. The oat milk latte tasted watered down.
Atmosphere: 4
Food: 2
Service: 3
yuri uribe
I’ve watched Communal lose its quality over the years i’ve lived in the area. The chai is literally too gingery and not in a tasty way! Coffee is mediocre and nothing amazing. Truly mid
Atmosphere: 3
Food: 3
Service: 3
Andra Moran
The carmelized avocado sandwich was delicious and they accommodated my request for a different bread. My vanilla bean latte was also good, but not as hot as I would like. It might be perfect for someone else. I just like my coffee really hot.
Atmosphere: 5
Food: 5
Service: 5
Lilly
Update a year later: do NOT sleep on their food! The toast flight is so good and perfect for two people. Also the best egg sandwich.
Love this place. Also a fantastic place to get some work done on your computer!
Atmosphere: 5
Food: 5
Service: 5
Good Mood Foods
Drove by Sunday on my way from Serra mesa to Whole Foods on uni to make an Amazon return & saw you guys crazy busy. I’ll try & see you soon
Atmosphere: 5
Food: 5
Service: 5
Ayelet Gneezy
Lovely all around. Highly recommended.
Atmosphere: 5
Food: 4
Service: 5
karla
The place is amazing , I love the ceremonial matcha, I haven’t found a better one. But every time I go, the baristas have a really bad attitude. I feel uncomfortable ordering because it seems like it bothers them. They don’t greet you, and their attitude is just unpleasant. This hasn’t happened to me at the South Park location, but it does at North Park.
I truly believe that service is part of the experience, and I really hope this can improve I wouldn’t want to stop coming.
Very fun vibe and had a great smoked salmon bagel and some tasty coffees! The banana caramel latte and honey salt latte were great
Atmosphere: 5
Food: 5
Service: 5
rosemary
Acai bowl didn't have acai. The acai in question was actually ice blended: banana, blueberries, water, and a spice. The granola was okay. Not worth $15+. I almost threw up 2 times while eating this.
Food: 1
Service: 1
Selina Cali
Great place to do some work on your laptop. They have a nice ambiance, a lot of different seating areas, a good menu and they even have mimosas! The food was really good.
Atmosphere: 5
Food: 5
Service: 5
E. T.
So you want/need a place with spacious, calming ambiance inside seating, as well as outside seating? You need to bring 15 friends?, well, they got you with plenty of room! ~Or maybe you meet one friend but have three hour’s worth of catching up to do? ~This is The Place! ~Where they have amazing vegan, gluten free donuts with chocolate frosting that tastes like a 5 star Michelin Bakery, haha!! Or maybe a beyond perfect raspberry square with a light buttery shortbread dough and perfection on the crumble topping which is not overly sweet that would please your Scottish Grandmom? How about awesome sandwiches, great toasted and cream cheese bagels, or Topo Chico if you don’t want coffee or tea?? AND Kind and cheerful waitstaff~Yes! We have been to many, many coffee shops/cafes around SD! So many seem to get their baked goods from Bread and Cie, which is ok, but super repetitive! I cannot say enough about this place. It is That Great! You will not be disappointed! Lastly there is a super cool little plant nursery that has wonderful succulent plants among others! There are also nice art cards and a small selection of gifts offered there! Enjoy!!
Great spot for a quick bite
Atmosphere: 5
Food: 5
Service: 5
This is the second time I’ve tried this place. I wanted to give it the benefit of the doubt, so I didn’t review it until now. The price point is fairly high for a coffee shop in the middle of a working-class area—$7 for a regular bagel with cream cheese, $7+ for a chai (just tea and milk), $15 granola bowl, etc. The drinks were lackluster at best and, honestly, in my opinion, way too expensive for such a dull, bland drink. To make it even more underwhelming, the place was insanely packed. There was literally no seating, as people were camped out for 5+ hours, so I sat outside—which is fine; it’s San Diego, so the weather is usually great (this was on a weekend at 1 p.m., lol). What kind of sucks is that their outdoor space is right on a main road, so it’s not peaceful at all. I barely found a spot outside, and the space wasn’t relaxing at all, given the location and the fumes from the traffic going by. Oh, and to top it all off, they have very few parking spots. I really wanted to like this place and find a new coffee spot, but I won’t be going back, sadly. Overpriced, overrated, and underwhelming. There are wayyyy better spots for this price point.
Atmosphere: 1
Food: 2
Service: 2
Great coffee, great food selection. Cool spot to study or work. Plenty of tables
Atmosphere: 5
Food: 5
Service: 5
$15 for the smallest breakfast sandwich you’ve ever seen. The oat milk latte tasted watered down.
Atmosphere: 4
Food: 2
Service: 3
I’ve watched Communal lose its quality over the years i’ve lived in the area. The chai is literally too gingery and not in a tasty way!
Coffee is mediocre and nothing amazing. Truly mid
Atmosphere: 3
Food: 3
Service: 3
The carmelized avocado sandwich was delicious and they accommodated my request for a different bread. My vanilla bean latte was also good, but not as hot as I would like. It might be perfect for someone else. I just like my coffee really hot.
Atmosphere: 5
Food: 5
Service: 5
Update a year later: do NOT sleep on their food! The toast flight is so good and perfect for two people. Also the best egg sandwich.
Love this place. Also a fantastic place to get some work done on your computer!
Atmosphere: 5
Food: 5
Service: 5
Drove by Sunday on my way from Serra mesa to Whole Foods on uni to make an Amazon return & saw you guys crazy busy. I’ll try & see you soon
Atmosphere: 5
Food: 5
Service: 5
Lovely all around. Highly recommended.
Atmosphere: 5
Food: 4
Service: 5
The place is amazing , I love the ceremonial matcha, I haven’t found a better one. But every time I go, the baristas have a really bad attitude. I feel uncomfortable ordering because it seems like it bothers them. They don’t greet you, and their attitude is just unpleasant. This hasn’t happened to me at the South Park location, but it does at North Park.
I truly believe that service is part of the experience, and I really hope this can improve I wouldn’t want to stop coming.
Restaurantji Recommends
Everything was clearly marked.
Atmosphere: 2
Food: 5
Service: 4
Very fun vibe and had a great smoked salmon bagel and some tasty coffees! The banana caramel latte and honey salt latte were great
Atmosphere: 5
Food: 5
Service: 5
Acai bowl didn't have acai. The acai in question was actually ice blended: banana, blueberries, water, and a spice. The granola was okay. Not worth $15+. I almost threw up 2 times while eating this.
Food: 1
Service: 1
Great place to do some work on your laptop. They have a nice ambiance, a lot of different seating areas, a good menu and they even have mimosas! The food was really good.
Atmosphere: 5
Food: 5
Service: 5
So you want/need a place with spacious, calming ambiance inside seating, as well as outside seating? You need to bring 15 friends?, well, they got you with plenty of room! ~Or maybe you meet one friend but have three hour’s worth of catching up to do? ~This is The Place! ~Where they have amazing vegan, gluten free donuts with chocolate frosting that tastes like a 5 star Michelin Bakery, haha!! Or maybe a beyond perfect raspberry square with a light buttery shortbread dough and perfection on the crumble topping which is not overly sweet that would please your Scottish Grandmom? How about awesome sandwiches, great toasted and cream cheese bagels, or Topo Chico if you don’t want coffee or tea?? AND Kind and cheerful waitstaff~Yes! We have been to many, many coffee shops/cafes around SD! So many seem to get their baked goods from Bread and Cie, which is ok, but super repetitive! I cannot say enough about this place. It is That Great! You will not be disappointed! Lastly there is a super cool little plant nursery that has wonderful succulent plants among others! There are also nice art cards and a small selection of gifts offered there! Enjoy!!
Atmosphere: 5
Food: 5
Service: 5
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