Bristol Cafe (inside Bristol Farms market) (revisit)(lunch)

mmm-yoso!!!  Food blog. Friends share blogging time.  Today, Kirk is enjoying chilly weather elsewhere.  Ed (from Yuma) is enjoying chilly weather in Yuma.  Cathy is chilly too and is the author of this post.

This easily could be another 'eat in the store, shop in the store' post, but I didn't take photos of our purchases or store displays (it was too crowded; day after Thanksgiving) (know that we bought by-the-pound poke, by the pound olives, a chunk of Bleu cheese, a wonderful aged rib eye steak (40% off that day), a cardoon, a coffee pot and cups gift set (also 40% off) and a fresh baked sweet from the bakery); it would be sensory overload to photograph the displays and variety of items sold here.  Bristol Farms is an upscale high end  grocer located in La Jolla that has a sit down cafe inside the store.  I posted about a breakfast here in 2010.

There is a grab and go area, salad bar area and steam trays as well as the menu above the Cafe cash register, so you can grab, choose, pay and have a seat in the Cafe area or on the patio, and enjoy your meal.

Or you can have a seat and have a menu brought out to you, for full service.  

There are Daily Specials listed on small placards on the table, and this was the Special on the day we were here- tomato soup and grilled Cheddar on sourdough ($6.99).   This is no ordinary tomato soup: it was chunky with tomatoes and it was spicy -in a good way-.  This is a great soup on a cool day.  The fresh sourdough grilled cheese was really nice on its own and went well if you dipped it in the soup.  

As our waitress brought out our waters, I asked about the soup choices (there are five or six soups a day). Cabbage soup, something I crave from childhood, would be part of this meal. It was very well seasoned, had some tomatoes and beef in it and very, very good. 

 One of the menu items was  a cup of soup and quiche ($7.99).  There were also five quiche choices and  mushroom was the only word I remember hearing and ordering.  This was *so* good.  Really flavorful crust, fillings, custard, cheeses.  Our waitress mentioned that we could purchase a whole quiche, made fresh daily in the store.  I will be doing so, next visit.

A very satisfying, flavorful meal in a nice setting.

Bristol Farms 8510 Genessee Avenue 92122 (858)558-4180 7 a.m.-10 p.m. Website

Comments

[Faye]

I used to come to this cafe all the time. The sit down service got pretty bad over the years though so it was just easier to do the self serve section and eat it in the cafe. But it's good to hear that they still have great soups and sandwich specials. I still think it's a beautiful market so I'll have to re visit to see what they have this season.

[Cathy]

Our habit of having a meal before shopping has led to some wonderful finds, Faye. We try to avoid the busier/crowded times to shop and eat (not many people go to the Grocer on the day after Thanksgiving), so that probably is a factor with service. Bristol Farms has a different inventory and quality of foods available than other grocers; I really like shopping here.

[Mary]

I've been wondering what the cafe was like inside Bristol Farms. It's not too far of a drive for work now so I've been thinking about going over there for a visit. The sourdough grilled cheese looks yummy. I've always loved the croutons they make here and it's one of the only places I can actually find a block of mizithra cheese.

[Cathy]

It is such a nice market, Mary. The quality, variety and uniqueness make shopping here an adventure. The Cafe is a must stop and the specials make it interesting.