It was with great sadness that I read on SanDiegoVille that my beloved Hob Nob Hill Restaurant had been bought out and would be closing temporarily until the new owners do whatever they plan to do with this historic San Diego eatery. I had to go one last time under the current regime; naturally, Mar Mar joined me.
The Hob Nob was always on the list for out-of-town friends, and it never disappointed. From 2017:
>A vintage 1975 postcard showing how the restaurant looked at that time:
During the pandemic lockdowns, the restaurant underwent a remodel that added a bar…
a few “Wizard of Oz” murals…
…and a photo of original owner, Dorothy Hoersch. When the “Oz” murals appeared, I was told by the staff that they thought they were a nod to Dorothy; other sources say it’s a tribute to “Wizard of Oz” author L. Frank Baum who lived in Coronado. The restaurant is located in the Bankers Hill area, so I would tend to go with the Dorothy Hoersch link.
Oftentimes, the lobby area was packed. Patrons knew that the freshly prepared food and service were worth the wait; informed locals (like me and Mar Mar) knew the best times to avoid the crowds. 7am on a Sunday morning was juuuuuuuust right.
I had many a delicious meal and memorable times with friends and family in these booths over the years.
Another Hob Nob trick was that if the lobby was full, you might be able to grab a seat at the counter without any wait.
For my Sunday breakfast, I chose the Belgian waffle stuffed with bacon. It was delicious. I was tempted to buy one of the homemade blueberry pies to take home, but my waist definitely did not need it.
Sadly, I have been told that the entire staff is being laid off and must reapply for their jobs. They have not been told when the restaurant will reopen, but have been instructed to get unemployment in the meantime. Unfortunately for the workforce there (many who have served over 20 years), tips are not covered with unemployment. What a rotten way to begin.
Thanks for the wonderful memories, Hob Nob. I sure hope the new owners follow in the footsteps of their honorable predecessors, but it’s not looking good so far.
See more San Diego Hob Nob Hill restaurant photos at my main website.
1 comment:
I took a friend out to breakfast Sun morning. We passed on Rudford's because we've been there 6+ times in the last month. I regret I did not think of Hob Nob Hill instead. Thanks for posting pics of Dorothy's legacy to San Diego dining. Fingers crossed on the new owners not doing anything crazy or extreme. ( ...but we know better. )
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