The Roxy Encinitas

On Tuesday, I headed to the office and faced the familiar dilemma: "Where should we go for lunch?" The Encinitas Cafe is always an excellent and reliable choice. Everything I've tried from their menu over the years has been fantastic because they truly care about the quality of their food. Last Tuesday, Dan and I planned to have breakfast there, but once we saw the menu packed with amazing lunch options, we couldn't resist. I ordered my usual iced tea (unsweetened, as always) and started considering my choices. I went with the Patty Melt on wheat, topped with grilled onions and served with French fries. It was delicious and really hit the spot—that's why we keep coming back. Maybe it's also because our favorite waitress works there; it's just such a fun place to eat!

Since that first visit, I have returned many times, and the staff has never made me feel unwelcome for taking up a table for an extended period. Their kindness has made such an impression on me that Encinitas Cafe has become my go-to spot. In fact, I even designed a website for them, which you can check out [here link] to see their menu and some photos of the team.

I’ve dined at Roxy many times and have always experienced great service, so this was quite surprising. I understand that gratuity is automatically added for large parties, but it felt like he didn’t make any effort to earn his tip. It seemed he knew he was going to receive a good tip regardless and didn't care to provide good service. We were informed that the bill would be split four ways, but when it was time to pay, we received a single bill instead. Andrew was nowhere to be found when we tried to clarify the situation. We didn’t mind the gratuity; we just wanted the bill split as promised. Eventually, the birthday girl had to speak to the manager to get the issue resolved. Andrew returned with the separate checks but didn’t offer any apology for the mix-up or the poor service we received. We spent over $700 and were really disappointed with the overall experience. It was not what we expected, especially for a special occasion.

The atmosphere, service, and music were all excellent, making for an enjoyable experience.

Wonderful menu options, inviting atmosphere, and attentive staff. Highly recommended for both lunch and dinner!