Lemon-Ricotta Pancakes

With hip, comfortable food and a retro diner look made slightly prim and proper by church pews enjoying their second life as cafe seating, Crest Cafe has been packing in Hillcrest-area habitués since 1982. Favorite menu items include a famous "onion loaf" (a deep-fried tangle of battered rings), grilled sandwiches, and honey-glazed pork chops.

On weekends, breakfast specials such as the divine lemon- or orange-ricotta buttermilk pancakes and blackberry-topped whole wheat-cottage cheese "power pancakes" raise pancake expertise to an art form.

Crest Cafe, 425 Robinson Ave., San Diego, CA;
(619) 295-2510.