- Pierre's Place
- Cuisine: Coffee Shops/Diners , Delis
- Neighborhood: Downtown
- 1404 5th Ave
- San Diego, CA 92101 (Map)
- 619.727.4700
- http://www.pierresplace.org/
Recommended by 1 local
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Located at the corner of 5th and Ash. Parking on street. Nearest freeway access: I-5, Front St. exit.
Transit & Parking Info
Hours of Operation 
Sun: 7am to 9pm
Mon: 7am to 9pm
Tue: 7am to 9pm
Wed: 7am to 9pm
Thu: 7am to 9pm
Fri: 7am to 9pm
Sat: 7am to 9pm-
Updated: 01/07/07
Here’s to !
Do some good and feed yourself well at this student-run café at the Toussaint Academy downtown.
I am always on the lookout for new places to eat lunch downtown, since it’s a meal I reliably eat out at least a couple of times per week. When I read about Pierre’s Place I knew I had to try it - not only because it sounded like a place to get good grub close to my office, but because the proceeds are going to a good cause.
Similar to Jamie Oliver’s “Fifteen” restaurant in London, Pierre’s is run by students and recent graduates of Father Joe’s Toussaint Academy, a licensed group home that provides shelter and education for homeless college-bound teens. In the few months that it’s been open, it has become one of the busiest lunch spots around, with good reason.
The atmosphere of the café itself is very welcoming, with lots of wood tables and chairs surrounding a living room area furnished with red leather sofas and a fireplace. It’s a nice combination of a coffee-house and café sort of vibe. You order and pay at the counter, and the food is brought out to your table.
The food is a definite cut above your average deli fare -- fresh salads with lots of toppings served in oval porcelain bowls, overstuffed deli sandwiches on panini-toasted bread, pizza, espresso and gelato. Some standouts we’ve tried from the menu include the grilled panini sandwich with chicken, provolone and roasted red peppers; the club deli sandwich made with turkey and ham; the chopped salad with bacon, avocado and tomatoes, and the house salad with dried cranberries, walnuts and bleu cheese on baby greens. The pizza also seems to be quite popular -- I’ve seen several people eating slices and picking up pies to go, including Father Joe himself. The coffee is also nice and strong -- perfect with a rich, gooey cup of gelato.
The presentation is quite fancy, and I love the fact that they use few disposable products. Sandwiches are served on cool triangular chrome racks lined with paper -- with a green salad in a glass bowl on the side. Silverware is wrapped in little bundles tied with string and propped in a vintage mason-style jar on the table, and beverages are served in recyclable clear plastic cups.
The good news is that all this extra quality and presentation doesn’t cost any more than your average deli. The sandwiches and salads are around six or seven dollars, with pizza by the slice for a little less. The service is also extremely fast, friendly and efficient -- far better than I’ve encountered in most quick-service restaurants.
Given all this, it’s not surprising that they have been very busy this summer, with lots of students pouring in from the language school around the corner, and lots of workers from the nearby offices. I’m thrilled that they are doing so well -- but the downside is it can sometimes be difficult to find a seat at lunch time. At least for the summer, it’s probably not a bad idea to come a little on the early or late side, just to make sure you get a table.