Beginners Diner 2223 El Cajon Boulevard, San Diego, CA 92104

"There are about 3-4 themed bars inside the Lafayette, all with different aesthetics. I had an amazing time eating and enjoying the drink/food offering. The ambiance was 10/10, and service was friendly and not rushed."

"I very much enjoyed eating Brunch here. The Beginners Diner is located within the Lafayette Hotel. The entire property has been renovated and is beautifully done. There is so much more here than the food, but the food is great. When you are here for a meal, you should plan on spending some time waiting for a table, but the adjacent bar and lobby are worth the time. They serve hip diner food with a unique spin. The food is prepared and presented beautifully, I had a bacon avocado eggs benedict. My daughter had the breakfast Tacos. All very good and reasonably priced. We splurged with a lemon meringue pie, that was excellent. We will be coming back often."

"A diner with service, imagine that. This diner inside a hotel offers a delicious menu 24/7, and a safe location. The atmosphere is over the top entertaining, like the rest of the interior design of the Lafayette Hotel. This new design echoes the best of the chrome and black and white heyday, while being built from shiney new materials. Every dish is prepared with good quality ingredients, and presented artistically. Not cheap. But reasonable. Go and go often."

"What a great little place! The food is kicked up diner fare and is absolutely delicious. I got the wagyu sirloin and my wife got the grilled cheese with fries, and we split a Caesar salad. The steak was cooked and seasoned perfectly. My wife said the grilled cheese was awesome. The salad was delicious with anchovies and all. Super cute interior, casual but upscale at the same time. It’s definitely not “diner prices” but the quality is tops and worth it in my opinion. Definitely going back to try more stuff."

"Beginner’s diner is situated inside the Lafayette hotel. They’ve done a good job of recreating a classic American diner vibe. Sometimes it takes a little while to get seated, but there are multiple bars directly next to the diner where you can wait. The food is definitely decent. I enjoyed my eggs Benedict. However, I think it’s kind of pricey for the portions you get. While it is good, diners usually give heaping portions—this place is trying to be very posh and, along with that, you lose a little of the traditional diner’s heft."