Cody's
8030 Girard Ave.
La Jolla
CodysLaJolla.com
858-459-0040
Cody’s La Jolla is perched on Girard Avenue as it slopes down towards La Jolla Cove at arguably one of the most picturesque locations in all San Diego. The former seaside cottage serves breakfast daily at 8 a.m. and lunch starting at 11:30 a.m.
My family stopped by for breakfast recently on a quintessential sunny San Diego morning to sample its “authentic American comfort food.”
On the traditional side are an American Breakfast of scrambled eggs served with either grilled breakfast potatoes or stoneground grits; a bacon, cheddar and avocado omelet; Eggs Benedict; Millionaire Buttermilk Pancakes with Blueberries; and side dishes such as granola, yogurt, fresh fruit, bacon and sausage. On the not-so traditional side are specialty omelets such as the Wild Forest mushroom with baby leaf spinach, fresh tomato and Sonoma chèvre cheese; Blue Crab Eggs Benedict; French Toast made with Bread & Cie challah served with fresh berry compote; and a side dish of sautéed baby spinach and shredded Parmesan. Not your ordinary comfort foods to be sure.
But not to worry if your little ones have less-adventuresome palates— Cody’s kids’ menu includes kid-sized portions of Eggs & Bacon, Scrambled Eggs with Cheese, French Toast and Strawberry Pancakes, each for $5.95.
My family opted for specialty egg dishes: Our 11-year-old daughter ordered an omelet with sausage, roasted red pepper, aged ricotta and basil pesto with potatoes on the side for $11.95. My husband picked the Blue Crab Eggs Benedict with wilted baby leaf spinach and hollandaise sauce for $14.95, and I opted for the Chilaqueles Con Huevos, a Mexican dish of fried tortilla strips in a mild tomato salsa topped with black beans, scrambled eggs, queso fresco, crème frâiche and cilantro for $12.95. Everything was fresh tasting and delicious.
Jim and I enjoyed large glasses of fresh-squeezed orange juice, $4.95, and also indulged in the delicious Kona coffee, $3.25. Our daughter ordered the Warm Frothy Hot Chocolate, $4.50. The hot chocolate definitely lived up to its name: rich, chocolatey cocoa served in a tall glass topped with an airy layer of whipped cream sprinkled with cinnamon.
The lunch menu at Cody’s looks equally delicious, with specialty sandwiches such as Grilled Mahi Mahi, entrees like Roasted Seafood Bouillabaisse and Grilled Salmon Salad, along with traditional fare including burgers, fish tacos and fish and chips. The kids’ options for lunch are a Hamburger, Cheeseburger, Grilled Cheese, Chicken Fingers or Fish and Chips for $5.95.
The service was attentive and quick—we received our dishes not long after ordering, and our coffee cups never went empty (my husband’s metric for a first-rate restaurant). It wasn’t crowded when we arrived, but our waitress said that even at the busiest time (early on a Saturday morning) the wait is usually less than 10 minutes. Street parking can be hard to come by in busy La Jolla, so plan some time to scout around for a spot and walk a few minutes.
Louise Julig is a freelance writer from Encinitas.