Crushed, a popular brunch spot in Pacific Beach, is approaching its 10th anniversary and still wooing customers with a variety of tasty creations.
Siblings Andrew and Amy Ballester opened the restaurant in 2014 at 967 Garnet Avenue. (A second location in North Park closed earlier this year.)
Amy Ballester, who has worked for 20 years in San Diego’s food and beverage industry, loved the PB community and thought it was the perfect place for a brunch spot.
“I knew that brunch was an up-and-coming idea … (and) it was underserved in Pacific Beach,” Ballester said.
She and her brother also wanted to create a space where people could talk to each other and “take the time to enjoy each other instead of just watching a game,” she said.
At Crushed, brunch is served from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. daily with a menu that features Mexican, Italian and Spanish flavors. Highlights include the Cali asada burrito, French toast sticks, omelets, eggs benedict and sliders. Dinner service starts at 4 p.m. daily, offering flatbreads, pastas and other options.
Mimosa flights are available all day and include seasonal flavors, along with best-sellers such as elderflower and rosemary grapefruit.
Crushed is also getting into the holiday spirit, with a variety of seasonal menu items and fun activities, including:
- Specialty cocktails like pumpkin espresso martinis, peppermint espresso martinis, Amaretto-inspired drinks and a spiked Mexican hot chocolate.
- Its annual Christmas Eve gingerbread house smash party. Tickets are $30 and available on Eventbrite.
- A free, East Coast countdown on New Year’s Eve with food and champagne toast for all guests.
Crushed is open daily from 10 a.m. to 8 p.m.
Visit barcrushed.com and follow @crushedfam on Instagram.
Roxana Becerril is a freelance writer.
