BLUEPRINT cafe: Barrio Logan/ close to Downtown San Diego

1805 Newton Ave
San Diego, CA 92113
(619) 298 7010
BluePrint-cafe.com
Mon-Fri 11am-5pm or 6pm
Lunch, Light Plates
Wine & Beer
Patio Seating
Dog-Friendly
GREAT Food
Entrees ten dollars or less
*NOT OPEN ON WEEKENDS*

Personally, I hate hearing excuses. I don’t really care if your establishment has “just opened” or it’s your “first month in business” — if you or your staff aren’t ready to provide above average services or products to your patrons the first day you’re open – you aren’t ready to be open AT ALL.

That being said, I was SO pleasantly relieved when I made my way to BLUEPRINT Cafe, the first week it opened: To my surprise, I had an excellent experience.

The service was top notch, the decor and interior looked smart and was thoughtfully designed, and the food was inspired and SO delicious. To be perfectly honest, it was probably one of the best cafe experiences I have ever had in San Diego — everything was simply done right. NO excuses.

Off the beaten path a bit, just a five minute drive from Downtown San Diego, you’ll find BLUEPRINT Cafe: Despite its minimalistic and contemporary design, the cafe sticks out like a diamond amongst its rough-looking surroundings.

A bright blue awning, re-purposed wood fencing, and simply two potted plants at its entrance, you sense immediately that the atmosphere is calm and collected. With its huge windows open, the space is very inviting and has an O-so-pleasing airy feel, perfect for enjoying the warm breeze. The outdoor patio is dog-friendly adding to its neighborhood friendly feel.

Upon entering inside you are greeted at the door by a sheet of paper with handwritten specials; towering just above a tantalizing array of desserts and other sweet treats that are all made of premise. Exposed cement walls contrast beautifully with the lovely shade of green, painted on its ceiling, and stark white euro-Ikea plastic chairs are bold but add to the earthy feel of the space.

“Menu is Updated Weekly” boldly stated on the tri-fold paper menus exhibits a social consciousness to seasonal variations. There is an obvious emphasis on their commitment to source organic and local ingredients throughout the entire menu.

The food is sort of a contemporary take on upscale comfort fare juxtaposed with gourmet healthy cafe offerings:

The quick- Griddled Quesadilla, with slow-cooked comfort favorites Brisket and caramelized onions sealed inside, is quite the indulgent treat. An infusion of Asian flavors in the Spinach & Buckwheat noodle dish like grilled hoisin-braised natural pork “short rib”,  julienne Asian veggies, and peanut dressing  provides an interesting and flavorful backdrop to an otherwise bland noodle.

The soup special we had, the Chicken Noodle infused with Thai spices (pictured), was also quite good: The broth was well-seasoned and the grilled chicken added a welcomed texture to the base. A generous piece of grilled bread accompanies the dish and is delicious solution to scooping up all those yummy little bits.

However, it’s pretty tough to pass up the Grilled Calamari Steak Sandwich: With fresh avocado, Chipotle sauce, crisp arugula, Fontina cheese on a soft Sourdough roll, this sammie boosts a delightful and refreshing combination of flavors. And the Calamari was cooked perfectly. It’s hard to say whether I’m more infatuated with, or impressed by this tasty and tender creation– either way, you must try this dish.

Each selection comes with choice of one side like Sweet Potato Fries, Spicy Potato Wedges, or their Slaw of the Day. My favorite, however, is the Macaroni & Cheese: Cooked home style with a mixture of bold cheeses and bread crumbs, this side dish is delectable enough to stand on its own.

BLUEPRINT cafe offers a selection of beers exclusively from San Diego’s very own boutique brewery Ballast Point- quaintly located in a retail space in a strip mall in Linda Vista. The selection of wines is also very limited as well-but that’s not necessarily a bad thing. Especially since all wines are available by-the-glass, and at seven bucks a pop or less, there should be nothing but smiles and giggles all around.

Don’t get Mixed Up! BLUEPRINT Cafe is NOT OPEN ON THE WEEKENDS.