The Hob Nob is back!

The Hob Nob Hill restaurant was a Daveland favorite when it came to staple San Diego dining. I was extremely disappointed to learn in February that it was being sold, closed indefinitely, and going under the remodeling knife. Today, I can report that it is back, better than ever. I was VERY happy to learn that all but two of the previous staff were hired back and that the changes inside actually improved the place (photo above). While I am as big (if not bigger) a “Wizard of Oz” fan as the next person, the large Oz mural and disco lights (part of a pandemic revamp) did not fit with the menu or the vibe of the clientele. Yes, Melissa…I know. “But I liked it!” It’s okay…I have been told that the mural went to a loving new owner. The Oz theme will fit better elsewhere.



The bar that had been added during the pandemic remains, but like the rest of the place, the night club lighting and dark colors have been removed. Yay.



Mercifully, the purple glow has been extinguished.



How the counter looks now:



During the Disco Pandemic era:



The walls have a tasteful display with nods to the restaurant’s historic past (below), as opposed to the slightly less than authentic feeling gigantic vintage postcard images that previously adorned the walls (above).



I went with Mar Mar for breakfast. We’ve shared many a Hob Nob meal together over the years.



The pancakes were just as they had been before.



Because it was a belated birthday celebration, the waitress brought out a celebratory pastry. Yum.



Another year, another wish.



I look forward to going back for dinner. Stay tuned!
 
See more San Diego Hob Nob Hill restaurant photos at my main website.

Arrivederci, Hob Nob Hill

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:

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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.

D-Tours in San Diego

As a vacation destination, San Diego is a no-brainer. Beautiful weather, an abundance of restaurants, and coastal scenery that can make even the most novice photographer look good. My friend Sita from Indiana was going to be in town for little more than a day, so the itinerary had to be action-packed. Dinner was the first item on the agenda after she arrived. Barrio Star in the Bankers Hill area is one of my favorite places to get Mexican "soul" food. The place is festive and the dishes are tasty; my favorite is the Brazil Bowl, which is a combo of black beans, power rice, steamed greens, pico de gallo, cilantro lime sauce, and grilled chicken. Delicious without being heavy. And the chips...they are the best in town! Rather than the bland too-greasy chips you often get, these are crispy with plenty of spicy seasoning. DELISH!



The main reason to eat a healthy dinner is so that you can indulge with dessert; we headed over to Extraordinary Desserts for some of the most decadent pieces of cake ever concocted. I absolutely went nuts over the Blood Orange Cake.



Going to bed with a full belly meant that breakfast was a bit later. Before heading off to the La Jolla Cove, Sita and I ate at one of San Diego's best breakfast spots: The Mission in North Park. Definitely worth the wait! The Blackberry Banana pancakes are the bomb.



Willis joined us for our tour of La Jolla; he was pretty excited for the day's adventure! Who wouldn't appreciate scenery like this?





Sita and Willis became fast friends; the sweet potato treats she brought with her were a big help!



Willis was intrigued with all of the different birds and animals that he saw in La Jolla:



Especially the seals, who seemed to be living the life of Riley. Just looking at the smile on this seal's face, you'd never know the controversy these creatures have become a part of because they have taken up residence on the hoity-toity shores of this upscale beachside community.



Willis wanted to play with them; he was obviously fascinated.



I just can't imagine why people flock to La Jolla; can you?



After all of that walking, it was time for us to take a gelatto break. I'm sure Willis licked somebody's spoon.



Naps followed for all so that we could be rested up for dinner at Alexanders, one of my favorite Italian restaurants in North Park. I was enjoying my beet salad and Linguini di Kathleen too much to shoot any photos.



Dessert was Ben & Jerry's while watching "Pitch Perfect." It just doesn't get any better than that.

With a plane to catch, there wasn't much time for touring the next day, so Sita & I had a quick breafast at the Hob Nob in Bankers Hill. Best service/food/value in town.



I couldn't let Sita fly back to Indiana without a quick tour of the downtown, so we ventured into the Gaslamp Quarter before heading to the airport.



A few souvenirs were purchased before we hopped back into the car to make sure Sita caught her plane on time. No surprise that she is already planning a return trip! Another D-Tours success story!

See more vintage & current San Diego photos from my collection on my main website.