Curbside Cafe: an-eclectic-menu-with-plenty-of-good-surprises

A funky café on Main Street in Vista is not where one would expect to find a delectable Crab Cakes Benedict, a light Monte Cristo Sandwich or an inventive and wonderfully complete fruit salad, but it’s all there at Curbside Café – and more.

Art work lines the walls, and even the tables, inside the café; and seating is also available curbside, hence the name.

John Randall has owned the place for eleven years, and developed expertise as a waiter, and also a chef, at the Four Seasons. He loves the entire restaurant experience and considers his regular customers, friends. He also loves the buzz of the weekend rush.

“On Sundays when I’ve got that line at the door and everything is going crazy and I’m running on all cylinders – I just love it – it’s like my Super Bowl,” said Randall.

Both breakfast and lunch are served all day and the menu is extensive. Their “Early Bird Special” is really early – find menu deals from 6:30 a.m. to 9 a.m. every morning.

The “Crab Cake Benedict” is the café’s signature dish and deservedly so. They take a couple of slightly spicy crab cakes, place them on two toasted English muffins, then top that with perfectly poached eggs, which are drenched with a lavish Hollandaise sauce. This delicious and reasonably priced selection is Eggs Benedict with flair.

Their “Fresh Fruit,” served in a cup or bowl, deserves applause. Preparation is time consuming says Randall, but he admits, “It’s worth it!”

“Fresh” is not just a term, either – their fruit fits the bill. The individual bowls are not mixed until ordered.

“A lot of love goes into this – it needs to be assembled as ordered because the fruit bruises,” Randall noted.

What will diners find in their fruit bowls? A colorful parade of fruit: strawberries, blackberries, blueberries, raspberries, bananas, kiwi, pineapple, grapes, cantaloupe, honeydew melon, watermelon, oranges, and mango. This colorful and refreshing medley is the most complete fruit assortment I have ever enjoyed.

Their Monte Cristo Sandwich deserves a nod. The batter used is much lighter than the typical Monte Cristo batter, and because of this, the sandwich itself is lighter – just perfect for a summer day. Turkey, ham and Swiss cheese is sandwiched between the lightly battered bread, fried until golden, then garnished with a dusting of powdered sugar. Dip the sandwich in thick strawberry preserves and you’ll be a happy camper.

The Curbside Café is located at 307 Main Street in Vista. Contact them by telephone at (760) 630-2747 or visit

http://www.curbsidecafevista.com. The establishment is open every day except for Christmas from 6:30 a.m. to 2:30 p.m.