Highlights
- Great coffee
oChef » Madi Pacific Beach – San Diego
Madi Pacific Beach - San Diego
Photo from Madi Pacific Beach
Madi Pacific Beach at a glance
San Diego Pacific Beach
- 🍽️ Restaurant
$$
Price per Person $21–$30
mentioned by 19 of the guests
#269 out of 755 places to eat in San Diego
#44 Restaurant out of 87 in San Diego
Good
7.7 out of 10
Food
Service
Ambience
Value
124
Reviews
73.4%
Satisfaction
Often praised
- Delicious food
- Attentive staff
- Charming decor
Frequently criticized
- Inconsistent dishes
- Service delays
- Pricing issues
The restaurant Madi Pacific Beach in San Diego’s vibrant Pacific Beach neighborhood is a must-visit spot, especially if you appreciate great coffee. This cozy and casual restaurant offers a welcoming atmosphere where you can relax and enjoy a quick bite or a leisurely meal.
Whether you’re starting your day with breakfast or grabbing lunch, you’ll find healthy options and delicious small plates. It’s a trendy yet quiet escape, perfect for catching up with friends or enjoying some solo time.
Overview: Introducting Madi Pacific Beach
Madi offers a pleasant dining experience, often highlighted by its flavorful dishes and a generally attentive staff. Many appreciate the charming atmosphere, making it a comfortable spot for a meal.
However, some guests have noted instances of slow service or longer wait times. While many find the pricing fair, a few opinions suggest that the overall value could be a point of consideration for some diners.
Good
7.7
out of 10
124
Reviews
73.4%
Satisfaction
23
negative
10
neutral
91
positive
Madi presents a solid overall performance, earning a 7.7 Restaurant Score, which is a good indication of its quality. Customer Satisfaction stands at 73.4%, also reflecting a generally positive experience for most patrons.
This consistent feedback comes from a total of 124 opinions, with 91 positive and 23 negative observations. Looking closer at the specifics, the Ambience truly shines with an excellent score of (8.7), creating a welcoming environment.
The Food also performs well at (7.9), suggesting many enjoyable dishes. Service is rated as good at (6.9), though some experiences vary, and Value comes in at an average (6.2), indicating it’s generally acceptable but not a standout feature.
What people like
- Delicious food items
- Attentive, welcoming staff
- Charming atmosphere
What people don't like
- Inconsistent food quality
- Service wait times
- Value concerns
Madi appears to be a good option if you prioritize a pleasant setting and generally well-prepared food. With a 7.8 Recommendation Score, it suggests that many find it a worthwhile visit, especially for its appealing environment and culinary offerings.
However, be prepared for potential service fluctuations and consider if the pricing aligns with your expectations for certain dishes. It’s a place that offers a good experience, but being mindful of these aspects can help manage your visit.
Similar Restaurants in San Diego
- Restaurant
9.4
out of 10
out of 10
160
97.5%
- $$
- Torrey Hills
- Food
- Service
- Ambience
- Restaurant
9.3
out of 10
out of 10
123
95.9%
- $$
- Miramar
- Food
- Service
- Ambience
- Restaurant
9.1
out of 10
out of 10
157
96.2%
- $$
- East Village
- Food
- Service
- Ambience
- Restaurant
9.1
out of 10
out of 10
462
96.5%
- $$
- Civita
- Food
- Service
- Ambience
- Restaurant
9.1
out of 10
out of 10
750
95.7%
- €€
- Mid-City
- Food
- Service
- Ambience
- Restaurant
9
out of 10
out of 10
437
92.4%
- $$
- Linda Vista
- Food
- Service
- Ambience
Verdict: Our expert take on Madi Pacific Beach
Food (7.9 out of 10)
mentioned by 91% of the guests
When it comes to the food, this spot generally hits the mark with a solid score of 7.9 and a good customer satisfaction rating of 75.7%. Out of 74 total comments, 56 were positive, highlighting delicious items like the GOAT Points toast, lemon pancakes, and waffle churro sticks. Many found the shashuka and breakfast burritos particularly tasty, often praising the generous portions.
However, not every dish was a home run, with 10 negative comments noted. Some found the blackberry sauce underwhelming, and there were instances of lukewarm food, like eggs that weren't hot enough or a cold biscuit. A few also mentioned small gravy portions, suggesting some inconsistencies in execution.
Food
74
Reviews
75%
Satisfaction
10
negative
8
neutral
56
positive
Rating distribution
What people like
- Delicious breakfast items
- Generous portions
- Creative pancake options
What people don't like
- Lukewarm food
- Small gravy portions
- Cold biscuit served
Often praised
- foodMy experience at this restaurant was fantastic! It's the best breakfast spot in PB, offering a wonderful combination of great ambience, terrific service, delicious food, and fair prices. The owner, Jeff, is incredibly nice and has paid attention to so many details in designing the space and creating the menu.
- biscuits and gravyThe entire staff were so amazing and welcoming. I got the shashuka and biscuits and gravy, and everything was flavorful and reasonably priced. I'm excited to have a new brunch place in PB, and this one will definitely be staying on my radar.
- portionsPortions were huge, but so good!!
- shashukaThe entire staff were so amazing and welcoming. I got the shashuka and biscuits and gravy, and everything was flavorful and reasonably priced. I'm excited to have a new brunch place in PB, and this one will definitely be staying on my radar.
- Basic breakfastBasic breakfast 4/5
- ChilaquilesChilaquiles 4/5
- French toast with berriesWe enjoyed the French toast with berries
- Fresh OJFresh OJ 5/5
- GOAT Points toastThe GOAT Points toast was incredible
- Goat Pointsshared the yummy Goat Points
Frequently criticized
- Papas Locaseggs were lukewarm and the cheese wasn’t melted
- Spirulina mimosaSpirulina mimosa 2/5
- biscuitThe biscuit came out so cold the butter wouldn’t melt.
- biscuits and gravynot biscuits I ordered it biscuits AND gravy
- blackberry sauceThe blackberry sauce wasn’t that great though
- eggs over-mediumOrdered eggs over-medium and they were barely over easy
- food qualityfood also didn’t live up to the quality
- gravyliterally got less than two tablespoons of gravy
- lemon blueberry pancakestbh i can make it at home. I wouldn’t get this again.
- shakshukashakshuka there was completely different (and far better) than the one here
Overall, the food here is a strong contender for your next breakfast or brunch outing. While there might be a few minor hiccups, the vast majority of dishes are well-received and worth trying. Expect generous portions and some truly standout items.
Service (6.9 out of 10)
mentioned by 91% of the guests
When it comes to service, many diners have had some truly great experiences. With 19 positive remarks out of 30 total, guests often praise the friendly and attentive service from individuals like server Gia and Elyse our server, noting how wait staff were amazing and food arrival was timely service. This contributes to a respectable 6.9 score, indicating an average performance.
However, its not all smooth sailing, as reflected in the 63.3% customer satisfaction, which is a mixed bag. There are 10 negative comments highlighting issues like wait time for ordering and seating, with some seeing tables available but still waiting. Concerns about server availability and server forgetfulness' also popped up, suggesting some inconsistencies in the experience.
Service
30
Reviews
63%
Satisfaction
10
negative
1
neutral
19
positive
Rating distribution
What people like
- Friendly staff
- Attentive servers
- Timely food
What people don't like
- Long wait times
- Seating issues
- Inconsistent service
Often praised
- serviceMy experience at this restaurant was fantastic! It's the best breakfast spot in PB, offering a wonderful combination of great ambience, terrific service, delicious food, and fair prices. The owner, Jeff, is incredibly nice and has paid attention to so many details in designing the space and creating the menu.
- staffAll staff/server/food runner was very friendly
- Elyse our serverElyse our server was very attentive, very Personable
- GiaGia was our server and she was so sweet and took great care of us.
- food arrivalfood came out promptly
- hostessMy experience at the restaurant was great. We were quickly seated by the hostess. The food was really good, and the gravy on the chicken fried steak was awesome.
- large groupI made a reservation for a weekend brunch, and we were seated right away. We had a large group of 8+, and they were great with handling all our orders. For food, the Waffle Churro sticks were so yum, though the blackberry sauce with jalapeño wasn't my favorite.
- server GiaGia was our server and she was amazing!
- service and staffService and staff were super great!!
- timely serviceaccommodated our need to be a bit timely
Frequently criticized
- calledHowever, we observed tables that appeared to be available, and while we waited, three women who arrived after us were seated immediately. We were never called, which led us to leave without dining.
- extra gravyasked for extra and then got a bowl and was charged
- seatingwait 15 minutes to be seated
- server availabilityseveral servers were just standing around
- server forgetfulnessWe waited about 15 minutes before any server approached us, despite several servers standing around. Our server mentioned she had forgotten it was her section, even though we arrived shortly after opening. The food quality also didn't meet the standards of the Normal Heights location.
- serviceService was slow
- tables availablesaw tables available
- waitwait 15 minutes to be seated
- wait timewaited a long time to order & get drinks
- waiting timesat for about 15 minutes before anyone came over
Overall, the service here seems to be a bit of a mixed bag. While you might get a wonderfully attentive server, be prepared for potential wait times or inconsistencies, especially during busy periods. If youre patient, you could have a great experience, but its not guaranteed.
Ambience (8.7 out of 10)
mentioned by 59% of the guests
Stepping into this place, youre in for a treat when it comes to the atmosphere! With a truly good score of 8.7 and an excellent customer satisfaction of 92.9%, its clear the vibes are on point. Guests consistently praise the atmosphere, patio, and location, often calling it cute, charming, and bright and airy.
The owners thoughtful design really shines through, based on 13 positive remarks. However, theres one small hiccup to consider. The bathrooms received a single negative comment, noting they might be insufficient for the size of the restaurant.
While this is a minor point among 14 total observations, its something to keep in mind if youre particular about facilities.
Ambience
14
Reviews
92%
Satisfaction
1
negative
0
neutral
13
positive
Rating distribution
What people like
- Great atmosphere
- Charming decor
- Bright, airy space
What people don't like
- Insufficient bathrooms
Often praised
- atmospherecasual comfort and charming, and nicely decorated
- vibesGreat vibes all the way around!
- ambienceMy experience at this restaurant was fantastic! It's the best breakfast spot in PB, offering a wonderful combination of great ambience, terrific service, delicious food, and fair prices. The owner, Jeff, is incredibly nice and has paid attention to so many details in designing the space and creating the menu.
- locationGreat location, great food
- patioThe patio was decorated in Xmas decor and very festive.
Frequently criticized
- bathroomsInsufficient bathrooms for the size of the restaurant
If youre looking for a place with fantastic vibes and a charming setting, this restaurant is definitely worth checking out. The overall atmosphere is a huge draw, making it a great choice for a pleasant experience, despite a minor note about the bathrooms'.
Value (6.2 out of 10)
mentioned by 27% of the guests
When it comes to value, it's a bit of a mixed bag, with a score of 6.2, landing it squarely in the average range. About 50% of customers felt satisfied, which is a mixed result. Many comments, including those using terms like price, prices, and priced, highlighted that dishes were flavorful, reasonably priced, and offered huge, well-priced portions, based on 3 positive pieces of feedback.
However, not everyone was thrilled, with 2 pieces of feedback mentioning concerns around price point and pricing. These comments suggest that for some, the cost felt a bit steep, indicating there might be room for improvement in how the value is perceived by all diners.
Value
6
Reviews
50%
Satisfaction
2
negative
1
neutral
3
positive
Rating distribution
What people like
- Good pricing
- Fair prices
- Large, well-priced portions
What people don't like
- High price point
- Steep pricing
Often praised
- priceThe entire staff were so amazing and welcoming. I got the shashuka and biscuits and gravy, and everything was flavorful and reasonably priced. I'm excited to have a new brunch place in PB, and this one will definitely be staying on my radar.
- pricedMy husband and I shared the yummy Goat Points, Shakshuka, and Papas Locas. The portions were huge and well priced. Oh, and did I mention the watermelon mimosa?
- pricesMy experience at this restaurant was fantastic! It's the best breakfast spot in PB, offering a wonderful combination of great ambience, terrific service, delicious food, and fair prices. The owner, Jeff, is incredibly nice and has paid attention to so many details in designing the space and creating the menu.
Frequently criticized
- price pointespecially for the price point.
- pricingespecially with their pricing
If youre looking for generous portions that are generally well-priced, this spot could be a good fit. However, be aware that some diners found the pricing a bit high, so it might not be the absolute best value for everyone. Its worth trying if you prioritize portion size and reasonable pricing over rock-bottom deals.
How are the prices at Madi Pacific Beach?
You’re looking at roughly 23 per person – reported by 19 diners. That puts it in the $21–$30 category. For a Restaurant, it’s comfortably mid-range: not a steal, but not bank-breaking either.
Most guests tend to spend right around this average, showing prices cluster nicely without too much spread.
Here’s a quick look at what guests spend per person, based on the latest 19 reviews.
How this restaurant’s value stacks up against similar spots in San Diego.
Overall, we think the pricing feels quite fair for a Restaurant experience in San Diego. It offers good value for a comfortable mid-range meal.
Customer Reviews: what people think about Madi Pacific Beach
Visit Type
- Food Exploration
Service Type
- Dine-in
Meal Type
- Breakfast
7
Fine Food, Okay Service, Parking Issues
My experience at the restaurant was generally fine, though the food wasn't particularly exciting. The service was just okay. A notable issue was the insufficient bathrooms for the size of the restaurant.
Parking presented a mixed experience: it's free on the storefront side of the lot, but costs $24 on the other side. Regarding the food and drinks: - Chilaquiles: 4/5 - Grilled cheese: 4/5 - Lemon ricotta pancakes: 5/5 - Basic breakfast: 4/5 - Guava mimosa: 3/5 - Spirulina mimosa: 2/5 - Breakfast burrito: 3/5 - The goat sandwich: 3/5 - Vanilla latte: 5/5 - Fresh OJ: 5/5
- food6
- service5
- parking5
- bathrooms2
- Spirulina mimosa4
Visit Type
- Food Exploration
Group Type
- Friends
Group Size
- Small Group
Service Type
- Dine-in
Meal Type
- Breakfast
10
Excellent Brunch Experience!
My experience at this restaurant was excellent! We had brunch and it surpassed our expectations. Our server, Elyse, was very attentive, personable, and ensured we had everything we needed.
The patio was decorated for Christmas and felt very festive. Our group tried the biscuits and gravy, brioche French toast, the breakfast sandwich, and shashuka. Everything was very tasty.
The vanilla bean latte (half sweet) was delicious, and the pineapple cold brew was a hit. We will definitely be back!
- biscuits and gravy9
- brioche French toast9
- breakfast sandwich9
Price per Person
- $31–$40
Visit Type
- Food Exploration
Service Type
- Dine-in
6
Service Great, Food Disappointing
My experience at this restaurant was a mixed bag. The service and staff were super great, earning a perfect score. However, the food and drinks were a different story.
I ordered eggs over-medium, but they arrived barely over easy with a runny yolk and snotty whites. For a restaurant aiming for a higher caliber and with a price point of $30–50 per person, I expected the eggs to be cooked correctly. The coffee was just 'meh, ' but the mimosas were great, though on the pricier side; the fresh OJ was likely the best thing we had.
The biscuit was served so cold that the butter wouldn't melt. While it was cool to check out a new spot, I'm not sure we need to go back anytime soon.
- service and staff10
- coffee5
- mimosas8
- eggs over-medium2
- biscuit3
- price point3
Price per Person
- $21–$30
Visit Type
- Regular Visit
Service Type
- Dine-in
Meal Type
- Breakfast
9
Great Atmosphere and Service!
I've been to this restaurant 2 times and had a great experience. The place has a great atmosphere and the service is excellent. I especially enjoyed the biscuits and gravy, which were really good!
- atmosphere10
- service10
- biscuits and gravy10
Visit Type
- Food Exploration
Service Type
- Dine-in
Meal Type
- Lunch
9
New Favorite Beach Restaurant!
My experience at this restaurant was absolutely delightful! I came here for lunch and it has quickly become my new favorite spot at the beach. The menu is amazing, and I'm eager to try more dishes.
I ordered the chicken salad and sampled both mocktails, and everything was incredibly tasty. The entire staff, including servers and food runners, were very friendly and efficiently accommodated our need for timely service.
- menu9
- chicken salad10
- mocktails10
What Madi Pacific Beach offers
Accessibility
- Wheelchair accessible entrance
- Wheelchair accessible parking lot
- Wheelchair accessible seating
- Wheelchair accessible restroom
Crowd
- Tourists
- Groups
Payments
- Credit cards
- Debit cards
- NFC mobile payments
Popular for
- Solo dining
- Breakfast
Amenities
- Restroom
Offerings
- Healthy options
- Hard liquor
- Quick bite
- Wine
- Coffee
- Beer
- Small plates
- Cocktails
- Alcohol
Dining options
- Breakfast
- Brunch
- Dessert
- Table service
- Seating
- Lunch
Service Options
- Outdoor seating
- Dine-in
- Takeout
- Delivery
Pets
- Dogs allowed inside
- Dogs allowed outside
- Dogs allowed
Parking
- Free street parking
- Paid parking lot
- Free parking lot
- Paid street parking
Atmosphere
- Cozy
- Casual
- Quiet
- Trendy
FAQs
What dining options and atmosphere can you expect at Madi Pacific Beach?
At Madi Pacific Beach, you can enjoy a variety of dining options including breakfast, brunch, lunch, and dessert, all with table service and comfortable seating. The atmosphere is described as cozy, casual, quiet, and trendy, making it a pleasant spot for any meal.
Does Madi Pacific Beach offer outdoor seating and is it pet-friendly?
Yes, Madi Pacific Beach provides outdoor seating for your comfort. It’s also a very pet-friendly establishment, as dogs are allowed both inside and outside the restaurant, so you can bring your furry friend along for your dining experience.
How does Madi Pacific Beach generally rate?
Madi Pacific Beach holds a 7.7 overall score, reflecting good customer sentiment. Food (7.9) and Ambience (8.7) are particularly strong, while Service (6.9) and Value (6.2) are more moderate.
What do customers enjoy most about Madi Pacific Beach?
Guests frequently praise the flavorful food, with specific mentions of dishes like shashuka and biscuits and gravy. The charming atmosphere and attentive staff also receive high marks.
Are there any common concerns at Madi Pacific Beach?
Some patrons have experienced slow service or wait times, and a few found certain food items to be inconsistent in quality. There are also occasional comments regarding the price point.