Trio of Change

Change is inevitable, and no matter how much we resist it, it typically manages to beat us over the head at some point. “They” say bad news comes in threes, so I am hoping that when it comes to favorite restaurant closures, this is it for a while. This spring, longtime favorite Hob Nob Hill closed down for good, after struggling for a year under the poor choices of the new owners. The place I originally fell in love with was fairly priced, large portions, great service, and made-from-scratch meals that tasted like mom made ’em. It was one of those staples that I ate at often, and my friends all dug it, too. No more Cincinnati Chili:



…and no more group gatherings where you didn’t feel like you needed to be ushered out. Nothing but good times, good food, and good memories.



Nearly every trip to LA featured a lunchtime stop at Mauro Cafe on Melrose, in the now defunct West Hollywood Fred Segal shopping center.



Every friend I took there raved; with both indoor and outdoor seating, you could guarantee that there would be fun people watching (and a celeb or two), delicious food, and servers who looked like they just stepped off the runway.



It was also Willis approved.





They had a lemonade slushee that was tart as could be and I LOVED it. On my most recent trip to LA, I was going to stop at the recently moved Mauro, but ran out of time. Oh well, I’ll catch it next time, I reasoned to myself. Next time is now never. It has permanently closed. Don’t put off for tomorrow what you can do today. So many adages today.



Yesterday, I learned that local favorite Madison in University Heights is also closing down, to replaced by who knows what.



This was another place that I typically took out-of-town guests to, including my mom. It got her stamp of approval, which is no small feat; Tony is one tough customer.



The drinks were a tasty precursor to the meal, which was followed by their awesome desserts. Presentation was a hallmark of this place:



The barrel ceiling and mod design were unique, pairing perfectly with Madison’s vibe.



Many a special occasion was celebrated here, including a birthday or two.



Good friend Mona and her husband Patrick recently went there for a belated birthday celebration. We had no idea it would be our last time there. Had I known I would have brought my camera. Another lesson - never leave the camera at home.



The moral of the story: if there are places you want to go to, or a restaurant you enjoy dining at, get your ass there. Support it. Don’t let it languish. Like anything in life, nothing lasts forever, except maybe the sting of regret.

See more San Diego photos at my main website.

Sunset Cliffs

Last night, my friend Kevin hit me up spontaneously to see if I’d want to go photograph the sunset in Ocean Beach. My initial thoughts were…I’ve got to get cleaned up, I need to pull out the photography equipment, where will I park…and then I said f%^k it and told him “yes.” That he offered to drive was a huge bonus. We went to Sunset Cliffs, lucked out on parking, and just caught the sun as it was sinking below the horizon.



Kevin at work:



With the telephoto lens:



…and the wide-angle:



Just plain old normal lens (albeit without auto-focus anymore!):



We were both pretty happy that we made the time to catch one of nature’s most amazing wonders, and a beautiful reminder of why we Californians pay out the wazoo to live here.



Back in the day (aka the 1980s/90s), pretty much every day I was in San Diego I was at the beach AND in the water. I still have my boogie boards, but they just don’t get any use.



Ah, Spring Break 1986:



Afterwards it was time to eat. The Hob Nob was an easy decision.



Kevin shoots beautiful photos; he poses for dorky ones.



The meatloaf dinner hit the spot (in the right way):



And so did dessert:



The moral of the story: instead of overthinking and being a bundle of negativity, STFU and just do it. You’ll be glad that you did. I know I was.

See more photos at my main website.

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:

>

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.