Naked Cafe Review (Encinitas Restaurants)

Pricing:

It's no Denny's.  Naked Cafe runs about $10 per entree.  The food portions are generous, so you don't go away feeling hungry.  Buy a nice glass of Naked OJ or a mimosa and it's going to be more like $12-15 a person.

Distance:

An Encinitas restaurant.  In the shopping center at El Camino Real and Via Montoro.  If you want a landmark, it's in the shopping center with the Wells Fargo, Home Goods, See's Candy and Radio Shack.  About a 5-10 minute drive for most Encinitas residents.

Thoughts:

I like this place though it's definitely not for everyone.  With a slew of healthy/organic/vegetarian/gluten-free type options, Naked Cafe is largely populated by women who want to have their breakfast with a mimosa and a side of gossip.  But there are plenty of dishes that also appeal to men here as well.  I go here all the time with my boyfriend (he will even suggest it) and he never feels like he just had to graze.

Naked Cafe is only open for breakfast and lunch.  I believe they close at 2:30 or 3 in the afternoon.  It is a little pricey but a nice place to go for a change of pace.  It can get crowded but I've never had to wait more than 10 minutes for a table.

Ki's Review (Cardiff By Sea Restaurants)

Pricing:

Ki's offers breakfast through dinner.  So the prices vary depending on which meal you're on.  Breakfast and lunch is about $6-12 per entree.  Dinner is in the $10-25 range.

Distance:

A Cardiff restaurant.  On the highway 101 so very close to most Encinitas residents.  Right next to Las Olas and Yogi's bar.

Thoughts:

The picture does not do Ki's justice.  One of the major selling points is that right across the street is the ocean.  So if you want breakfast with a view, this is your place.

Ki's is unusual in that it does offer all three meals over the course of the day.  There are set hours for each type of meal, so don't expect to be eating breakfast for dinner here.  During the day, it's a laid back beach place.  They pride themselves on serving fresh, organic food.  So you can get humongous omelettes that actually feel somewhat healthy.  They're not swimming in grease.

At night, this restaurant completely changes.  It's not at all uncommon for live music to be present on the weekends.  The dinner menu is a little bit more refined.  Expect to see your standard steak or fish served with some interesting sauces or sides.  For example, one of my favorite appetizers there is a quesadilla that has brie, avocados and mangoes.  Sounds like a strange combination, right?  But it's really tasty.  So you do have to be willing to try new things in order to get the most out of this place.

Their wine list is also impressive.  It's not more or less extensive than any other restaurant.  They just have some really nice ones to choose from.  One nice little feature on the dinner menu is they offer food and wine pairings.

I only really have one complaint about Ki's.  90% of the time, the food and service is fantastic.  But every once in awhile, it seems like they have their "B team" running the entire establishment.  Incorrect orders will arrive or the food will be cold... things like that.  It doesn't happen often enough to turn me away from this place.  I still frequent it on a regular basis.  But when everyone at your table has something wrong with their meal, you know something is up.