July 9, 2023

What’s a weekend on vacation without eating brunch at two different places? On Saturday, after we arrived, we had a delicious lunch at The Henry, which you can read about here. On Sunday, we met my parents for brunch in the Little Italy area of San Diego at Wolfie’s Carousel Bar. I actually found Wolfie’s on a “best of” list on Instagram, and I just had to check this kooky little place out.

The space is actually not as big as you would think it is, considering it has a real, actual, moving carousel in the middle of it. The outside of the carousel, where you sit at the bar, actually spins very slowly. Even the carousel horses high above our table were going up and down! The only way to describe this space is whimsical. You get an instant smile on your face the moment you walk in here!

We were seated in a cozy booth with a nice view of the rest of the restaurant. Our server was very attentive and funny, and we had a great time here. The atmosphere really lends itself to having fun – I mean, it IS a carousel, after all! Honestly, I was shocked that this place wasn’t overflowing with people for Sunday Brunch – it’s an absolutely perfect spot for it, and the food is super tasty, with a very french flair.

I totally loved the brunch food offerings and it was tough to pick what to have. The easy choice, though, was to start with the beignets, which were super powdery, sweet and warm. They were very fresh, and I would not recommend skipping them.

The french toast here was a massive slab of bread that was stuffed with custard and topped with fruit, powdered sugar and maple syrup. It tasted amazing. I went for the croque monsieur, which was good, but I feel like they overdid it with the bechamel sauce a bit. Everything was plated beautifully with edible flowers. There is a lot of attention to detail here. You already know I’m a sucker for tiny edible flowers!

If I lived near San Diego, this would definitely become a regular spot for me. Their normal lunch and dinner menus look amazing. Oh, but if you ARE here for brunch, don’t forget to order a mimosa – they usually have at least 4 or 5 freshly squeezed juice flavors, so there’s something for everyone! Cheers!