San Marino Cafe & Marketplace

It's a very nice place in a nice neighborhood. Excellent service. The only reason I gave 4 stars is that I think the place is a bit too pricey.

Atmosphere: 5

Food: 5

Service: 5

Recommended dishes: Sandwich

Okay San Marino is a safe and well kept neighborhood. The cafe offered a pleasant seating area and outside seating is also available. 15 dollars for a burrito where the egg is not cooked and runny is gross. Nice presentation but it lack flavor aside from being undercooked. My son ordered the sandwich which is basically just a fresher version of Starbs bacon and gruyere sandwich. Nothing to write about AND ALSO 15 dollars. I don't mind dishing out for a scrumptiously delicious breakfast burro or sandwich, but this was not it.

Atmosphere: 5

Food: 2

Service: 5

Great service, friendly staff and food is on point.

Atmosphere: 5

Food: 5

Service: 5

I'd give this place 5 stars for food -- always like the food here, especially the quiche and the sandwiches, and the seating outside. Service in the past has always been good.

However, recent service is a 2. When I was there last Saturday, it took forever for someone to bring our drinks after our lunches arrived. When I mentioned we had drinks, as well as sandwiches, when a young woman brought our food, she said, "Yeah, the drinks are taking a long time." We ordered lemonade and an Arnold Palmer -- presumably sandwiches take longer to make than pouring ice tea and lemonade into cups. It was an odd response.

Finally, after about 15 minutes, I got up to go get them myself and saw they were sitting on the counter - behind the person who had brought our sandwiches and another male employee with whom she was chatting and laughing. I stood there and was ignored. When I finally asked, "May I have our drinks?" she said, "Just a sec" in an irritated tone and went to help someone else who had just walked up to the register.

Finally, a third employee - who was very nice when she took our order earlier - saw me and handed them to me. The ice was half-melted.

I have no idea what that was all about; however, I will stay away for awhile until there's employee turnover.

Also, I learned it's a good idea to just order your food to go - -that way you get everything at once, food and drinks, and can still find a table outside. Definitely go for the food!

Atmosphere: 4

Food: 5

Service: 2

I'd give this place 5 stars for food -- always like the food here, especially the quiche and the sandwiches, and the seating outside. Service in the past has always been good.

However, recent service is a 2. When I was there last Saturday, it took forever for someone to bring our drinks after our lunches arrived. When I mentioned we had drinks, as well as sandwiches, when a young woman brought our food, she said, "Yeah, the drinks are taking a long time." We ordered lemonade and an Arnold Palmer -- presumably sandwiches take longer to make than pouring ice tea and lemonade into cups. It was an odd response.

Finally, after about 15 minutes, I got up to go get them myself and saw they were sitting on the counter - behind the person who had brought our sandwiches and another male employee with whom she was chatting and laughing. I stood there and was ignored. When I finally asked, "May I have our drinks?" she said, "Just a sec" in an irritated tone and went to help someone else who had just walked up to the register.

Finally, a third employee - who was very nice when she took our order earlier - saw me and handed them to me. The ice was half-melted.

I have no idea what that was all about; however, I will stay away for awhile until there's employee turnover.

Also, I learned it's a good idea to just order your food to go - -that way you get everything at once, food and drinks, and can still find a table outside. Definitely go for the food!

Atmosphere: 4

Food: 5

Service: 2

BBQ Brisket Grilled cheese sandwich was fantastic. Staff friendly. Just wish it was open for dinner
Update 2024 July:
Today my wife was treated very rudly. To top this off the bill had 4% added even though there was no notice of this anywhere. This is an illegal act . Having posted a price and charging more.
While I love the food, having my wife treated poorly and then being cheated has me not wanting to return.
I wonder if the staff for some reason is discriminating against my wife?

Atmosphere: 5

Food: 5

Service: 1

Recommended dishes: Marketplace Panini, Sandwich

If I could give zero stars I would. The owner is awful, entitled and speaks horribly to people. I will never eat at this establishment again

Service: 1

Cool place with great service and delicious hot chocolate!
I wouldn't call the GF donuts "donuts" though lol
It was more like a "donut shaped chocolate cake" which was delicious ?

Atmosphere: 3

Service: 5

FRAUD ALERT this owner is overcharging you by 4% for a credit card service fee and NOT disclosing it. She must think we are stupid here in San Marino or too rich to care but this is FRAUD. Worse - she is making a profit margin off you as I suspect her merchant fee is only 3-3.5%. Don’t allow this crook to insult your intelligence - dine elsewhere!

Atmosphere: 2

Food: 2

Service: 2

I ordered a salad and a sandwich it was over priced and portions are small. Sadly I will not come back.

Atmosphere: 4

Food: 1

Service: 3

I liked this cute coffee shop because it’s so calm and serene “mountain living” type of feel in the forest tundra type of California living place…feels wonderful to sit down in the outdoor sitting with the solid color awning umbrellas and the “basket woven material” chairs that remind me of Paris coffee shops. Parking was so pleasantly available and there wasn’t much city fuss, no crazy noise, no people trying to push their agendas just coffee, food, birds and cutesie mountain living….sigh

Atmosphere: 5

Food: 5

Service: 5

Breakfast there was a bit disappointing. Expensive for the quality and they serve the eat-it plates in plastic containers that look very unsustainable.

Atmosphere: 2

Food: 2

Service: 4

I need a quick lunch while being in town for work. The chicken salad sandwich was so delicious, as was the lovely hot leek and potato soup. Quick service and warm atmosphere.

Atmosphere: 5

Food: 5

Service: 5

Recommended dishes: Sandwich

Small neighborhood cafe with simple and tasty dishes. Popular with locals from the neighborhood.

Vegetarian options: If you want something quick and good to eat, then this would be an ideal spot. The other fact is they close are only open from 8 to 3 so you either should call your order ahead before they close.

Atmosphere: 3

Food: 4

Service: 4

Recommended dishes: Salads for Catering, Medi Salad

all the food we tried here were really good, and the drinks we got were nice too.

Atmosphere: 5

Food: 5

Service: 5