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Fig Tree Cafe - Hillcrest Reviews List
Fig Tree Cafe - Hillcrest
Fig Tree Cafe first opened in Pacific Beach in 2008 and has now opened its second location in the heart of Hillcrest. Our menu changes with the seasons as we use in-season, locally grown products. Our PB location was voted best Brunch in San Diego 2010 and we"re excited to bring this award winning cuisine to Hillcrest. Our dinner menu features items such as Short Ribs, Fig and Prosciutto Pizza, Lobster Ravioli, rosemary, thyme and lemon marinated Jidori Chicken, along with a moderately priced, eclectic wine list. We take great pride in our friendly, inviting and unpretentious style of service.
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54 Current Reviews
Summary of Diner Ratings & Reviews
Overall
(Outstanding)
4.2
/
5
Rating Breakdown 54 reviews
5 stars
(21)
4 stars
(25)
3 stars
(7)
2 stars
(1)
1 star
(0)
Food
(Outstanding)
4.2
/
5
Service
(Outstanding)
4.3
/
5
Ambiance
(Very Good)
3.9
/
5
Noise Level
Energetic
Filter Reviews By:
Diners classify this restaurant as:
- neighborhood gem(33)
- fit for foodies(30)
- special occasion(12)
- good for groups(11)
- great for outdoor dining(11)
- romantic(11)
Fig Tree Cafe - Hillcrest Reviews List
Review 1 for Fig Tree Cafe - Hillcrest
Overall rating
(Good)
3
/
5
Food
(Good)
3
/
5
Service
(Good)
3
/
5
Ambiance
(Fair)
2
/
5
Noise Level
Energetic
"Nice little neighborhood restaurant, good for before show, movie, etc. as it is quiet when having an early dinner. Good food, reasonable prices."
Dined on 4/29/2013
Special Features: neighborhood gem
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Review 2 for Fig Tree Cafe - Hillcrest
Overall rating
(Very Good)
4
/
5
We love the food at Fig Tree
Food
(Very Good)
4
/
5
Service
(Outstanding)
5
/
5
Ambiance
(Good)
3
/
5
Noise Level
Moderate
"We love the food at Fig Tree Cafe. It's a nice little neighborhood restaurant.
Our favorites are the Beet Salad, it's very fresh with red and yellow beets, and generous enough to share.
Also love the lobster mac & cheese, they put in a good amount of lobster, we shared this among 4 people.
We also love the pasta dishes, Jidori Chicken, and short ribs.
We didn't try the desserts.
The only thing missing is they have a hard alcohol license.
Generous portion, moderate price."
Our favorites are the Beet Salad, it's very fresh with red and yellow beets, and generous enough to share.
Also love the lobster mac & cheese, they put in a good amount of lobster, we shared this among 4 people.
We also love the pasta dishes, Jidori Chicken, and short ribs.
We didn't try the desserts.
The only thing missing is they have a hard alcohol license.
Generous portion, moderate price."
Dined on 04/13/2013
2011
Special Features: fit for foodies, good for groups, great for brunch, great for outdoor dining, neighborhood gem, special occasion, hot spot
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Review 3 for Fig Tree Cafe - Hillcrest
Overall rating
(Very Good)
4
/
5
Perfect for breakfast or dinner
Food
(Very Good)
4
/
5
Service
(Very Good)
4
/
5
Ambiance
(Good)
3
/
5
Noise Level
Moderate
"The rosemary chix pizza was fantastic
Also the roasted chicken was excellent"
Dined on 04/09/2013
2012
Special Features: neighborhood gem
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Review 4 for Fig Tree Cafe - Hillcrest
Overall rating
(Very Good)
4
/
5
Tiramisu was AMAZING
Food
(Very Good)
4
/
5
Service
(Very Good)
4
/
5
Ambiance
(Good)
3
/
5
Noise Level
Moderate
"We came by for happy hour on a weekday. Food was delicious and the portions were generous. Service was excellent - our server was quick yet attentive."
Dined on 04/03/2013
2013
Special Features: good for groups, neighborhood gem, special occasion
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Review 5 for Fig Tree Cafe - Hillcrest
Overall rating
(Outstanding)
5
/
5
I've visited Fig Tree regularly
Food
(Outstanding)
5
/
5
Service
(Very Good)
4
/
5
Ambiance
(Very Good)
4
/
5
Noise Level
Energetic
"I've visited Fig Tree regularly and enjoy the food very much. It's creative, wonderfully flavored, and fresh. My single complaint would be the wine list - it's either a poor selection or just not my taste."
Dined on 04/04/2013
2010
Special Features: fit for foodies
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Review 6 for Fig Tree Cafe - Hillcrest
Overall rating
(Outstanding)
5
/
5
The scallop special was simply
Food
(Outstanding)
5
/
5
Service
(Outstanding)
5
/
5
Ambiance
(Outstanding)
5
/
5
Noise Level
Quiet
"The scallop special was simply amazing. Wonderfully flavorful and beautiful presentation. My only reservation was that, as a confirmed chocoholic, they didn't have a suitably decadent chocolate dessert. Oh well, can't have everything! The service was perfect, attentive but not too much. Can't wait to go back."
Dined on 03/29/2013
2012
Special Features: fit for foodies, neighborhood gem
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Review 7 for Fig Tree Cafe - Hillcrest
Overall rating
(Good)
3
/
5
Overall I had a good experience.
Food
(Good)
3
/
5
Service
(Very Good)
4
/
5
Ambiance
(Good)
3
/
5
Noise Level
Moderate
"Overall I had a good experience. I liked the meat and cheese board that I shared with my friend and the salad that I had was good. However, I feel like for the neighborhood you could go to one of the other restaurants that offer similar things and get the same thing. I will say that the service we received was excellent. I was really impressed with our server and her knowledge of the menu and ability to recommend wines to match our meal."
Dined on 03/27/2013
2009
Special Features: fit for foodies, great for outdoor dining, notable wine list, romantic
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Review 8 for Fig Tree Cafe - Hillcrest
Overall rating
(Very Good)
4
/
5
Food
(Very Good)
4
/
5
Service
(Very Good)
4
/
5
Ambiance
(Good)
3
/
5
Noise Level
Moderate
"great neighborhood find."
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Review 9 for Fig Tree Cafe - Hillcrest
Overall rating
(Good)
3
/
5
Went for dinner. Service was
Food
(Good)
3
/
5
Service
(Very Good)
4
/
5
Ambiance
(Good)
3
/
5
Noise Level
Moderate
"Went for dinner. Service was good. Food was okay -- nothing extraordinary."
Dined on 03/08/2013
2002
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Review 10 for Fig Tree Cafe - Hillcrest
Overall rating
(Very Good)
4
/
5
Roasted beet salad was tops,
Food
(Outstanding)
5
/
5
Service
(Very Good)
4
/
5
Ambiance
(Good)
3
/
5
Noise Level
Energetic
"Roasted beet salad was tops, and the wedge held its own. The pork chop was moist and flavorful, and the nightly special was a tender flank steak that will hopefully find a permanent spot on the menu.
Only down side is tables are incredibly close together, it gets a little noisy and a little distracting (although I do hope our neighbors get the apartment they're looking at, it sounded lovely). Look forward to trying a table on the outside patio."
Only down side is tables are incredibly close together, it gets a little noisy and a little distracting (although I do hope our neighbors get the apartment they're looking at, it sounded lovely). Look forward to trying a table on the outside patio."
Dined on 03/07/2013
2006
Special Features: fit for foodies
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Review 11 for Fig Tree Cafe - Hillcrest
Overall rating
(Very Good)
4
/
5
While on vacation in San Diego
Food
(Outstanding)
5
/
5
Service
(Very Good)
4
/
5
Ambiance
(Very Good)
4
/
5
Noise Level
Moderate
"While on vacation in San Diego we found this place. My husband and I shared a wedge salad and mushroom bruschetta. Both were very good. I had the special pasta that night - rigatoni and shredded short ribs. I usually don't order pasta out, but this was unbelievable. My husband also had the special veal steak which he enjoyed. Our server was prompt and friendly."
Dined on 02/07/2013
2008
Special Features: fit for foodies, neighborhood gem, special occasion
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Review 12 for Fig Tree Cafe - Hillcrest
Overall rating
(Outstanding)
5
/
5
One of our favorite restaurants
Food
(Outstanding)
5
/
5
Service
(Outstanding)
5
/
5
Ambiance
(Very Good)
4
/
5
Noise Level
Energetic
"One of our favorite restaurants in San Diego. The chef knows what he is doing, creating brilliant mixtures of flavors in hearty dishes that leave you satisfied. The wedge salad is perfect. The pork chop delicious. The flat iron steak superb. Mahi Mahi was cooked perfectly with wonderful flavors. The staff go out of their way to be welcoming, friendly, smiling all the time. When it is busy, the noise level is high, but all else is perfect at this Hillcrest gem."
Dined on 01/26/2013
2001
Special Features: fit for foodies, good for groups, neighborhood gem
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Review 13 for Fig Tree Cafe - Hillcrest
Overall rating
(Good)
3
/
5
Great food and Service but noisy
Food
(Very Good)
4
/
5
Service
(Very Good)
4
/
5
Ambiance
(Good)
3
/
5
Noise Level
Energetic
"The food and the service were excellent, bu the decor did nothing to dampen the noise which was quite loud even with only a couple of table occupied."
Dined on 01/24/2013
2004
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Review 14 for Fig Tree Cafe - Hillcrest
Overall rating
(Outstanding)
5
/
5
I've been to Fig Tree Cafe
Food
(Outstanding)
5
/
5
Service
(Good)
3
/
5
Ambiance
(Outstanding)
5
/
5
Noise Level
Moderate
"I've been to Fig Tree Cafe - Hillcrest before. The service this time was not great but I'll be coming back."
Dined on 01/23/2013
2011
Special Features: fit for foodies, good for groups, great for outdoor dining, kid-friendly, neighborhood gem, romantic, special occasion
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Review 15 for Fig Tree Cafe - Hillcrest
Overall rating
(Fair)
2
/
5
The food was good but the
Food
(Good)
3
/
5
Service
(Fair)
2
/
5
Ambiance
(Good)
3
/
5
Noise Level
Moderate
"The food was good but the hostess was really rude and unfriendly."
Dined on 01/23/2013
2010
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Review 16 for Fig Tree Cafe - Hillcrest
Overall rating
(Very Good)
4
/
5
Food was very good, but dessert
Food
(Very Good)
4
/
5
Service
(Fair)
2
/
5
Ambiance
(Good)
3
/
5
Noise Level
Energetic
"Food was very good, but dessert seemed to not be homemade. I would skip it next time. They were out of the fig bread pudding. Noise level was quite high. I had a hard time hearing the conversation at our table"
Dined on 01/23/2013
2007
Special Features: fit for foodies, neighborhood gem
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Review 17 for Fig Tree Cafe - Hillcrest
Overall rating
(Very Good)
4
/
5
Local food done right. Fair
Food
(Very Good)
4
/
5
Service
(Good)
3
/
5
Ambiance
(Good)
3
/
5
Noise Level
Moderate
"Local food done right. Fair prices, friendly staff and simply done/inviting decor. Try the bread pudding! Even if traditionally not a fan, theirs will win you over."
Dined on 01/23/2013
2010
Special Features: fit for foodies, neighborhood gem
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Review 18 for Fig Tree Cafe - Hillcrest
Overall rating
(Very Good)
4
/
5
We went for restaurant week
Food
(Outstanding)
5
/
5
Service
(Outstanding)
5
/
5
Ambiance
(Very Good)
4
/
5
Noise Level
Energetic
"We went for restaurant week and were (pleasantly) surprised that the pre-fixe menu items were regular sized items.We opted for the wine pairing.For the app, we had the panko crusted eggplant with arugula and feta cheese which came with a sparkling wine. The waiter, who was fantastic, poured our sparkling wine and left to retrieve our appetizers, however there was a problem with our apps so we drank our wine before realizing we hadn't paired it with anything. No problem, the waiter refilled our glasses and the app came out shortly.For entree, we had the short ribs with garlic mashed potatoes and craisins (this tastes way better than it might sound) paired w/a malbec. Dessert: Bread pudding (no raisins yay) w/fig and a muscat. Great place!"
Dined on 01/18/2013
2004
Special Features: fit for foodies, neighborhood gem, special occasion, hot spot
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Review 19 for Fig Tree Cafe - Hillcrest
Overall rating
(Outstanding)
5
/
5
Went during Restaurant Week.
Food
(Outstanding)
5
/
5
Service
(Outstanding)
5
/
5
Ambiance
(Very Good)
4
/
5
Noise Level
Moderate
"Went during Restaurant Week. Food and service were not notch!"
Dined on 01/21/2013
2010
Special Features: fit for foodies, neighborhood gem
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Review 20 for Fig Tree Cafe - Hillcrest
Overall rating
(Very Good)
4
/
5
The Man Candy appetizer is amazing!
Food
(Very Good)
4
/
5
Service
(Outstanding)
5
/
5
Ambiance
(Outstanding)
5
/
5
Noise Level
Moderate
"Man Candy (bacon with brown sugar and paprika) is chewy and delicious. I went with some other friends for restaurant week but we all agreed that the Man Candy was the best dish. I also thoroughly enjoyed the Pan Seared Salmon and Coffee Cake."
Dined on 01/21/2013
2011
Special Features: romantic
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Review 21 for Fig Tree Cafe - Hillcrest
Overall rating
(Outstanding)
5
/
5
the crispy eggplant was a
Food
(Outstanding)
5
/
5
Service
(Outstanding)
5
/
5
Ambiance
(Outstanding)
5
/
5
Noise Level
Energetic
"the crispy eggplant was a great start, complete with greens and goat cheese. the braised short ribs were very tender, i'd definitely get this dish again. finished off with keylime pie. the crust was just right. our waiter was friendly and helpful. it's a fun scene, but a bit noisy at times."
Dined on 01/18/2013
2013
Special Features: fit for foodies, neighborhood gem
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Review 22 for Fig Tree Cafe - Hillcrest
Overall rating
(Outstanding)
5
/
5
This was my second time eating
Food
(Outstanding)
5
/
5
Service
(Outstanding)
5
/
5
Ambiance
(Outstanding)
5
/
5
Noise Level
Moderate
"This was my second time eating at the Fig Tree in Hillcrest. Again we all had delicious meals. The Salmon was very good! My husband raved about the short ribs and the chicken dis was also incredible! The service was great as well. We each tried a different dessert, tiramisu, key lime pie and bread pudding and were all pleased!
I would totally recommend this restaurant it was such a great find for delicious food!!!"
I would totally recommend this restaurant it was such a great find for delicious food!!!"
Dined on 01/18/2013
2009
Special Features: neighborhood gem
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Ratings-Only Reviews for Fig Tree Cafe - Hillcrest
Based on the average of (32) ratings-only reviews
Overall
(Outstanding)
4.3
/
5
5 out of 5 recommend this product
Food
(Outstanding)
4.2
/
5
Service
(Outstanding)
4.5
/
5
Ambiance
(Outstanding)
4.2
/
5
Noise Level
Energetic