This was an amazing way to break up a long day at the zoo. I went with friends so we were ready for a drink by mid day. In the reservation I asked to be seated by the waterfall and they totally followed through! It was such a nice relaxing ambiance. Food was also great and our server Janice was very nice. We also got drinks to go for the second half of our day!

Best food in the zoo! Not too long a wait around lunch time on a Sunday, and you can make reservations sometimes. Definitely worth the wait either way, since you’ll end up paying similar amounts for worse quality food elsewhere. Also a good selection of drinks. I got the Garlic Cheese Bread, which was a sourdough boule cut into sections with tons of mozzarella, butter, and black garlic spread with a tomato pesto- totally Divine, and HUGE, enough to split between like 3 or 4. Fried chicken sandwich was a bit under seasoned, maybe a bit too sweet, but still gourmet and interesting. The BLT is super unique- you get individually smoked quarter inch-3/8 inch thick slabs of bacon sandwiches between an herby tomato and garlic rubbed sourdough. GET THIS!!

Fantastic space, excellent food, good atmosphere for families and a massive thank you to our server, Mark who made the visit so special. We had the steak frites, chicken piccata and tuna melt, all good options. Thank you Mark!

Huge portions and a lot of great choices. Nice to have the option of a sit down meal while you're at the zoo. The short rib Bolognese was delicious. There's a pretty waterfall next to the outdoor seating.

+2

This is the perfect spot to grab lunch on a hot summer day. Particularly, when you have toddlers who need a break from all the sun and the hills. One thing worth noting, the staff here is superb. They were very caring to our little ones and, when one of our kids accidentally broke a glass of fruit salad, they went above and beyond to make him feel okay about it. The steak salad is pretty good and the kids Mac and cheese is something I'd have as an adult.

Great place to take a break from the park with good food and drinks. I believe it is the only full service restaurant at the zoo and I would recommend making a reservation.

+3

The best food I've ever had in a park. Could compete with some of the more hip places outside. Asparagus crepe was extremely tasty, nicely served and felt healthy - nice escape from the usual burger! The wait was only 10 mins when we came around 2pm on an October Sunday.

Outstanding food, just pricier than standard zoo fare I had the picatta with shrimp and it was delicious. The pasta was the perfect consistency, the shrimp was good, but the highlight for me was the sauce, which was outstanding. I also tried some of the Caesar salad, which while simple was some of the best I remember having. The lettuce was fresh and a pleasant consistency, and had just enough sauce to give flavor while not drowning the lettuce, avoiding a common fault with Caesar salads in my experience. If you are visiting the San Diego Zoo for a special occasion, make sure to give Albert's a visit.

The salmon was excellent. Great escape from the hustle and bustle of the busy zoo with a beautiful view of the waterfall with your meal. Highly recommend!

This was our favorite meal on our trip to San Diego. They had a salad that was differ and refreshingly tasty. It was quite expensive however. Definitely worth a visit while there.

+1

Went for our wedding anniversary lunch. Sat by the railing next to the waterfall and stream. Service and food was fantastic. Felt like being in another tropical country.

Excellent food and service in the middle of the San Diego Zoo. Great dishes for a reasonable price. Note: make reservations before you get to zoo or you won’t get in. Nice bar too.

+3

Fiancé treated my mother and I to a Valentine’s Dinner and it was absolutely amazing! The food and wine pairings were all professionally done! We had a wonderful experience here!

+5

This is the second year we've paired a visit to the San Diego Zoo's Jungle Bells with dinner at Albert's Restaurant. The service, atmosphere, and, most importantly, the food, are all first class. The Crispy Brussel Sprouts appetizer, with balsamic vinegar, is really delicious. And my steak was perfect cooked with my equally-delicious Steak Frites. I can see this becoming a tradition for us.

+1

Came here for our breakfast before walking around the zoo, gotta say I was impressed by the food quality! I was expecting standard “theme park food” but I was pleasantly surprised! The food here is amazing! The service was also very nice, they were very kind to us. The ambiance is also beautiful we sat near the waterfall outside and we loved it. Definitely will come back here whenever we do return to the zoo :) (I copied and pasted from my Yelp review)

Alberts is an awesome restaurant hidden within San Diego zoo. We enjoyed the awsome food.

My family (4 adults and a toddler and a baby) had a really lovely dinner and wonderful time at Albert’s today. The food was great, we were very comfortable, and our server, Mark was outstanding! He was so thoughtful about making sure we had what we needed for the kids, helped us out when our toddler spilled her drink, and was just so kind and thoughtful in all he did. This is the best service I have had in a restaurant in YEARS. Thank you Mark!

The food surprisingly wow'ed us! The food was better than we expected for a restaurant at a zoo. We got the mushroom ravioli ($22) and it was mouth-watering delicious. The chicken sandwich ($19) was also good, the chicken was moist. Highly recommend!

The atmosphere is nice, its next to a small waterfall view. But the FOODDD!!! I ordered the chicken sandwhich and butternut squash soup. I wasn't starving but I ate it all like if I hadn't had food for a week. It was DELICIOUS!!! I'm a picky eater so it was so refreshing to eat something I enjoyed

This was the stunner of the day; such a pleasant surprise to find a restaurant of this quality when you're trapped inside an attraction. Jacob, our server, was excellent. The food was excellent. This was a great value for what we got. I can recommend anything on the menu that sounds good to you. We enjoyed everything we ordered.

+2

Albert's is one of the top places to eat in the San Diego Zoo. If you're a member, you get discounts. They have a decent sized menu, portions are decent and pricing is pretty good. Quality.is where they shine though, this isn't your normal attraction/frozen food stuff. Service is great, but there is usually a line so be ready to put in your name and wait a little bit during the crazy lunch hours.

This place is absolutely beautiful! I loved the decor, and the food was mouthwatering. They have a nice Veggie menu! I had the Spring Vegetable Kabobs and Stuffed Pita.

Just excellent! We had salmon, steak & Ahi - simply delicious and enjoyable. Setting is great and our waitress Jen was excellent as always. Highly recommended!!

+3

Alberts is a great place to have a great meal. The atmosphere is wonderful, the feeling that you are away from everything adds so much to enjoying your meal. The food is really good. The selection though a little limited, is satisfying. I go here when I can to enjoy a meal, kick back and relax among the tree tops.

Enjoy sitting in the patio, while a lovely breeze and beautiful waterfall create a relaxing atmosphere for you. The only sit down restaurant in the park. Great food, fast & friendly service. You can call ahead for reservations, handicap accessible too... Elevator available close by.

+2

Excellent place to dine in during your visit to the Zoo! Delicious food and drinks and superb service! Highly recommended! We tried the cauliflower fried rice and Seasonal Salmon! Both dishes were fresh and tasty!

Make a reservation. Otherwise you will have to wait or not get in. Sit outside for the best experience. If you are getting there from the entrance its worth taking the Safari tram up the walking across the bridge on the top the walking down the stairs to the restaurant. The ahi tower was an excellent appetizer. The cheesy bread was great too. The fish and chips were ok but would not be my go to. The philly was creamy and flavorful with a little spice. Would recommend this restaurant if you are looking for a nicer dining experience at the zoo. Look elsewhere if you are just looking for a quick bite on the move.

Really cute spot! I've eaten here a few times now, and I love the food. I highly recommend the cheesy garlic bread! I also just had their seasonal drink, the candy cane cocktail, and it was delicious!! I finally got to sit on the deck next to the waterfall, and I loved it. Very nice ambience, and got a nice glimpse of the sunset.

Great place for dining in the San Diego Zoo, very relaxing setup. Advance reservations are highly recommended especially if you plan to travel on the weekend. We arrived around the brunch time and tried lunch options, received unlimited mimosa. Delicious vegetarian option as well.

Stellar. Quality of the food is excellent which is a relief for the price you pay. Service was awesome as well. Everything we got was on par with quality we would find at Disneyland restaurants. If you're willing to spend about $50/person with drinks, I'd hit this up.

The food here is amazing 👏, I had the Shrimp linguine. My wife the fish tacos. Amazing taste. Our sever George was on it. He was busy but check on us many times. Came back in January 2026 Kasey was our waitress, she was amazing, always checking up on us. The food was still fantastic. The linguine sauce tastes so good. I wish it came with bread so I could have cleaned up the dish. 😋

Our drinks were very tasty, pear tree.martini and a meerkat mule. Appetizer, Ahi tower was perfect for 2. It actually could be a meal for Ahi lovers. Seared Atlantic Salmon was delicious as was the Chicken Lemon Piccata. Our server was attentive, thanks Terri. The balcony seating was very nice. I loved the waterfall. As I looked around to other platings they looked impressive. Thank you Albert's staff for a very nice experience. $$ highly recommend make reservations.

+1

Best place to eat at the San Diego zoo. The staff is friendly, the food is great, and the waterfall view is amazing. Such a unique place!!!

Service was really good. Very communicative, thorough, and fast. The food was flavorful with average portions, but you pay a lot for it.

+1

This is not just great food “for a zoo”, this is GREAT FOOD. The Tuna Poke and Birria Tacos were some of the best bites we had in all of San Diego. Great service and a meal under a waterfall. What could be better?!

This is a very nice, clean, cozy, amazing hidden gem inside the zoo. Food menu is absolutely delicious. The cocktail menu is amazing. It’s not difficult to find. But the set up is very nice. Even has a small water fall view.

+6

We ordered cheesy garlic bread as an appetizer and got their salmon, chicken burger, and chicken Cesar salad. Although we waited about 25 minutes, it was definitely worth it. The food was good and service was great., a bit in the pricy side, but don’t compromise on good taste. We sat outside where there was a waterfall.

+1

This was a very nice place to eat. The staff is much friendlier and more attentive here than at other food locations in the zoo. The waterfall out back provides a lovely ambiance whilst dining on some tasty food. I would recommend this restaurant because you get better food, better service, and a nice air conditioned environment. And if you have a souvenir sipper they'll refill it there for free if you have the receipt! Excellent experience! EDIT: During my most recent to I noticed that the prices had increased quite a bit since my previous visit. The prices are more "premium" because of all the positive things I mentioned above. I'd still highly recommend the place because it makes for a great experience. Menu photo was taken 5/3/2023.

+6

We had a delightfully delicious lunch at Albert’s. The ambiance was fun and elevated (considering being in the middle of the zoo). The cheesy garlic bread was a fantastic starter, recommended for 3-4 people since it is large and rich. I had the flat iron steak salad, which was cooked to perfection (juicy and tender too). For horseradish lovers like me, the dressing was wonderful and complimented the steak and greens perfectly. My husband and I indulged in cocktails, which were balanced and fragrant, and not too sweet or syrupy (despite the colorful appearances), and we both very much appreciated that there was no skimping on the spirits. Made the afternoon lots more fun! Our server Brianna was fantastic as well. Highly recommend but fair warning, it is probably the priciest dining option in the park. Make a reservation in advance if you can.

Visiting the San Diego Zoo was the highlight of my California visit. Since I was spending most of my day there, I figured I would treat myself to a nice meal. The zoo has lots of cafés and snack spots. Albert’s was the only nice dine-in establishment I noticed. My visit was in early December so the zoo in its entirety was not at all crowded. As such, there was no line or waiting at Albert’s. I sat on the balcony near the waterfall which was very nice. My waitress promptly greeted me and took my beverage and appetizer orders. I had the black butter garlic bread and trust me... try it!!! It was divine! I also had the pork burger and upgraded to truffle fries. Both were outstanding! Since I was already indulging, I ordered the warm peanut butter brownie for dessert and my goodness was that amazing!! The menu is on the pricier side, but worth it if you’re treating yourself.

Who knew zoo food could be this great?! Definitely recommend the truffle fries, fish tacos, and chicken sandwich. Was pleasantly surprised they had a variety of tea, which was nice on this chilly day with intermittent showers.

We ate here when we were at the zoo. Everything we ordered was delicious! Also, great service and big portions. We had leftovers for dinner. Highly recommend 👌

Albert’s restaurant is a hidden gem! I’ve been to the zoo countless times and only recently stumbled upon it. My husband and I finally got to try it and let me tell you, it’s not like any other theme park restaurants at all in the best possible way! The service was outstanding, the food was delicious, the drinks were very good, and the ambiance was perfect with a beautiful view of a waterfall. We tried a few of their signature dishes and they were all very yummy. I highly recommend checking out this restaurant! For those who like fun drinks, the place has a great selection!

We discovered Albert’s by accident about 23 years ago, and now it’s the only place we’ll eat at the Zoo. My 5-star rating ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️ is in context of the other Zoo food options... it’s not meant to suggest it’s “best-in-San-Diego” fine dining (and definitely not an insult... we genuinely love dining at Albert’s). 😊 It can get quite busy, which can affect service, and we’ve seen the food quality ebb and flow a bit over the years. That said, we dined there today and had a wonderful lunch, with great service from the hostess and our waiter, George. Therefore I wanted give it a fresh review. The atmosphere is always fun and festive at Christmas time, too. 🎄 And for the adults... it’s a nice place to enjoy a beer or a glass of wine and take the edge off. 🍺🍷 We highly recommend Albert's - one of our favorite local traditions here in America's Finest City!

+3

A really nice place tucked in the zoo. It is a bit pricey, but so are most things in the zoo. Good thing is majority of the money goes for the well-being of the animals and upkeep of the zoo. Yet it was really cool to have a meal in their outdoor patio sitting next to a waterfall and surrounded by trees. The staff were nice and the food was tasty.

Roberto Torres

We really liked the food, an enjoyable break in the early afternoon. We specially liked the service. Mark was polite, charismatic and attentive, we are grateful for his attention to allergies. We saw neighboring tables and saw their servers were no different. Definitely worth the visit.

E. H.

Such a unique and fun experience! Excellent service, delicious food. Steak frites! Steak salad! Garlic bread!!

Jj Mm

Delicious food, lovely setting, reservations are recommended. There's wine list, waterfalls, and a great view when seated outside.

Terra Scott

The food here was amazing! I would definitely go here again if I went to the San Diego zoo again which I probably will someday. The garlic cheesy bread is to die for and so is the fish that I had and my friends pasta. The steak that the guy had next to me looked awesome amazing! They were so nice. They let us sit at the bar and order drinks until we had a table since the wait was about 20 minutes. It actually wasn’t that long though. We got a table, our waitress is great, just like our bartender! I would definitely come here again!

+4

Sky C

A hidden gem in the trees of the San Diego Zoo. It felt like we were eating in a tree house. Mark, our server, was wonderfully attentive. The food was delicious! The corn chowder was comforting. The chicken burger was enormous. The fries were crispy. The steak was well flavored. Would definitely go back if we visit the zoo again.

+1

Sean Collins

This place is and has been a pleasant surprise. Not only are they the only spot in the non-Safari park that takes reservations, but I feel like it's the best sit down food experience in the zoo. Overall, the food and drinks have been consistently great, often incorporating themes from the zoo and its critters. The service was and has been consistent, and the price is reasonable considering both the zoo and San Diego in general. Honestly, I don't see any downside to giving this place a try.

+1

Phil C

Take a break from all the walking and sightseeing and check out Albert's Restaurant, the only full-service restaurant and bar in the San Diego Zoo. It's been years since my last visit to the zoo, so I had to try this place out. I highly recommend making reservations early, especially during busy seasons. We made reservations for lunch the day we visited with ease. There is plenty of indoor and outdoor seating, with a waterfall just outside the patio area. The dining area is inviting and fits the zoo's theme and decor. We ordered various items from the menu, and everything was delicious. I ordered the House Smoked Albacore Tuna Melt, which was flavorful and filling. The Seasonal Salmon entrée and Cheesy Garlic Bread were also hits. The Double Stacked Chicken Sandwich was hefty; I don't think my family finished that one, but they enjoyed it. Overall, it was a pleasant and tasty experience. Our server, Madison S., was friendly and attentive, and our food came out promptly. For parties of seven or more, an 18% gratuity is added. The prices for being in a theme park weren't surprising, but I would dine here again.

+5

Daniel Pratt (IIIx Kimbo xIII)

Stopped and ate lunch here while visiting the zoo. The waitress was very friendly, the food was tasty and the atmosphere was comfortable. This is a nice tucked away spot to sit down and eat a meal at the zoo.

Kayla Harmer

Loved loved loved this location! Atmosphere was amazing! We sat outside and ate by a waterfall! It’s the only place that’s a sit down restaurant in the zoo. We got reservations and was sat down immediately with no wait for lunch! If your at the zoo definitely recommend checking this place out!

Irina Alekhina

Absolutely fantastic! Albert's Restaurant at the San Diego Zoo is a gem in the midst of a wild adventure. After a delightful stroll around the zoo, stepping into this cozy, air-conditioned haven was perfect. The ambiance is charming, and the view is simply breathtaking. Although we had a short wait of about 25 minutes, it was well worth it. The restaurant is understandably busy, but it’s a must-visit. The experience was top-notch from start to finish. Highly recommend!

Bernice Olaes

Gorgeous tucked away restaurant at the World Famous San Diego Zoo. We came on a Friday morning and were able to get a reservation right at opening. We were seated inside and ordered the steak, fries, and tomato basil soup. Our server, Madison was not only kind but so attentive! She was quick to bring anything extra that we needed and definitely enhanced our experience with her service. The soup was AMAZING. I asked for the salmon to be more medium rare than well done and the chef(s) cooked it to perfection! The veggies were soft and cauliflower puree was so delicious I had to ask for more!

Amy Kay

Lovely place to eat while visiting this Zoo! We came on a Thursday and there was no wait. Love how they made this restaurant inside the habitat that used to belong to Albert 🦍. We sat outside by the waterfall which made for a beautiful experience! The wait staff was amazing by accommodating our order. We shared a tomato bisque and the chicken sandwich which was plenty for my husband and I. The nice waitress had the kitchen split both of them to serve us our own. Everything was delicious, everyone was kind, and the atmosphere was memorable. Oh, and do order from their signature cocktails! Their vodka strawberry lemonade and their Tequila cucumber drinks were great 👍🏼

Honestly the food is overrated. It's not bad, but it's a far cry from the superlatives that i read prior to coming here. However the location and view are great, really nice ambiance. Service is ok. Portion size is ok, price is reasonable especially considering the location.

Some of the best “in park” dining we have ever been to. The fresh brewed tea alone is worth a visit! We did have some trouble finding it on the sky walk….. As it’s on the lower level, maps is kind of deceiving to us… Once found well worth it. Any very reasonably priced

Located a few levels down from where the Treetop cafe is. Was able to walk in on a Thursday afternoon for a table inside. It is a nice dine in service, however the food could be a bit better. Fish tacos were a bit bland and the philly cheese was just ok. The peach cobbler dessert was huge and delicious. Was also able to get a discount with membership. May try again when the menu updates with other options.

Says reservation required, but that's not true. Says there is a Bloody Mary flight, but that's not true. Food was nice to look at, lacking in flavor. Get a patio seat and it's worth it.

+1

I made a reservation several weeks in advance. I was promptly seated on the corner of the patio near the waterfall, which was absolutely beautiful. I started with the corn soup, which was amazing. The cauliflower fried rice, on the other hand, was pretty two out of five. It sounded like it would be seasoned well, but it was very bland. Even a side of sriracha sauce would have gone a long way. I couldn't resist ordering the creme brûlée cheesecake for dessert, which ended up tasting very little like creme brûlée and was covered in whipped cream and fruit. It was alright, but probably not worth its calories. Service (particularly the check) was on the slow side, which I usually wouldn't mind, but I was eager to get back to looking at animals.

For a restaurant inside the zoo this was very good! We arrived by 11 and didn't wait 5 min to get a table, outside by the waterfall, super nice. We ordered fish and fries and a chicken burger. The portions were BIG. We had to wait a bit for get the check since the place was getting super busy but nothing to complain. Not many option on the menu and the price, of course, is not cheap since everything in the zoo cost more ($18.oo and $19.oo respectively). But everything tasted very good and the waitress was very friendly.

Everything at this restaurant is fantastic. Great atmosphere. Fantastic service from Jacob. The food was great. You absolutely get what you pay for here. My girlfriend and I were very surprised that such a good restaurant could be at a zoo!

Menu with very good options with a reasonable price for this kind of place. The chicken piccata with linguine was delicious!

When you go to a restaurant in a park or attraction like the San Diego Zoo, you usually expect higher prices and mediocre food. But I've got to be honest with you, Albert's was a pleasant surprise. The prices weren't as bad as I expected and the food was really good quality, very tasty, and our server was great. The fish tacos were lovely and the chicken picatta was great as well. My only note of criticism about the experience overall is they had a WAY too eager busser who was swooping around the tables like a hawk trying to take everyone's dishes. He grabbed one of my girlfriends too early, and he did it so fast we didn't really have time to process it and say "no wait!" Young man, I love the initiative! But slow down a bit. It made our dining a little uncomfortable because we felt like we needed to protect our plates from you.

You really need reservations here if you don't want to wait hours. The food is good but not a ton of options. Kids menu seemed good for kids but the flavors were more for grownups. The quesadillas were made with corn and fried crispy something most kids aren't as adjusted to. Service was also a little hard to get as they seem to be running low on staff and overworking them. Poor employees looked like they were working hard but just not enough help.

It’s the Zoo. Table cloth. Linen napkins. Getting to actually sit down and eat was worth the $25 tuna melt. It was very good don’t misunderstand me. However seemed a bit high on price. If you need a moment an food while at the zoo I would definitely recommend stopping in

Great place inside the San Diego zoo, romantic and fun. Food is mediocre. Salmon was overcooked, steak undercooked, wedge salad was soggy, brussel sprouts too sweet.

Alexander Photography

I’ll start off with the food. We got the chicken picatta and the steak frites. Both meals were cooked perfectly and delicious. The garlic truffle potato wedges with the steak were delicious. When told that this was the best restaurant at San Diego zoo, the food didn’t disappoint. The waiter was very attentive to our drinks and refills were brought out without asking. They even offered to go aluminum cups at the end of the meal which we saved as keepsakes from the zoo. The only down side to our experience was that we went in late January. The weather was chilly and windy and our table happened to be next to the door outside with the waterfall. It was busy so we didn’t have an option to change tables and they weren’t willing to shut the door. All the tables around us were clearly freezing but since they service outside frequently, the door had to remain open.

Rong Mao

One of the nicest dining spots inside the San Diego Zoo. The staff were all cheerful and helpful. It took a while for the food to be served. The cheesy garlic bread was yummy but rich. The flat iron steak kale salad tasted healthy and surprisingly delicious, perhaps one of the best dishes we ordered. The pasta with chicken piccata and creamy sauce was quite good. The mac and cheese and fries in the kids menu were decent. Overall the quality of the food was better than what we expected from a restaurant inside the zoo. The price was on the higher end compared to the other places inside the zoo, but it was a great dining experience for us, especially on a rainy and chilly winter day.

Sarah Trettner

We were looking for something tasty to eat at the zoo, which has a rating of 4 stars and more! With the help of Google, we found the restaurant. The food was quickly prepared, nicely presented and tasted good. With the salad, the combination of strawberries and the bacon chips was well combined! The shrimps in the pasta (additionally ordered) were very good. We definitely recommend the restaurant!

Everything tasted fine, service was Fine, everything was just fine ... glad we stop to try it out while at the zoo,

Food is mediocre. Service is friendly and earnest. It really is all about location. And being in the middle of the zoo and accepting OpenTable reservations ensures my family will continue to come here during our trips to the zoo.

+3

Only sit down option at San Diego Zoo. Arrived at 315pm reservation and not busy. Was an unusually hot day in San Diego and the waterfall next to our table had a calming and cooling effect. Food was fine, nothing particularly memorable (although one of the kids had the chicken wings and they were tender and had a nice but not overwhelming heat). Service was top notch. No need to go out of your way, but it was enjoyable.

Staff was friendly and the food was good but the prices are silly. I made a reservation at 4am and specifically asked for a seat outside next to the waterfall (there were no listed reservations for that day yet). When we got there, the request was ignored (not a huge deal, but why ask for requests?). Food was well portioned, beers cold. But the total for two sandwiches and two beers was $60 before tip. A friend chicken sandwich and a pork sandwich, folks... While I understand we're are a captive audience, the level of price gouging was a little much. I'd skip it most likely next time and just pack my own lunch.

Ugh. This was an incredibly disappointing experience. We really wanted to have a nice and relaxing sit down meal since the huge San Diego Zoo is very exhausting to walk around. Albert’s is located in the middle of the park on a huge tower and is a bit difficult to find since it is sandwiched between levels. Once you find it, be prepared for a very long wait for a table with seaters that are border on rude. Once you are seated you might be shocked how bland the restaurant looks - good news - the food tastes the same way! I get that I can’t expect much for a restaurant in the zoo, but they went out of the way to make the food as bland as possible. Service was *really* bad. Don’t expect refills or to even see your server for most of your meal - add that to the 45-60 minute wait for food once you order, a chunk of your visit to the zoo will be taken up by this. We also were looking for a place to cool down on a very hot day - and unfortunately the AC barely works in this restaurant.

Overall food is good. The soup is very salty. Food Waiting time is more than we expected. Restaurants is very nice and clean.

+1

Receptionist was talking to other front staff when we walked in, seemed put off that we were there. Sat us inside (4 adults, 1 infant and 1 toddler) inside. There was sitting outside (extremely slow), we asked to be moved by receptionist and she said they couldn’t seat us outside. We watched two parties after us be sat we same size parties. Food was bland, except the cheese bread which was good. Overall wish we would’ve just ate at some fast food place, first time in the park we felt not welcomed and out of place. Won’t ever eat again.

Service was super friendly and appreciated. Atmosphere was pretty good, particularly if you were seated near a waterfall. The food was quite bad, unfortunately--the "crispy" rice and tuna was an extraordinary amount of uncrispy rice, and flavored poorly. The dessert also felt like it was purchased from Safeway. That said, eating at the zoo is a captive audience situation, like eating at the airport. The price is high, the quality tends to be bad.

Heather S.

One side of the restaurant had all the families with kids, the other side didn't, and they sat me in the middle of all the kids for some reason, even though I was kidless. The quesa birria tacos were alright but the fries were terrible. Good service until I was ready for the bill, then I couldn't find the server.

EdDeL

Probably just an expensive zoo lunch… Taking as a departing point that Albert’s is a restaurant at the San Diego Zoo, we can say it is not bad at all, yet there are some things that are worth being noted. Firstly, décor is not outstanding, and neither is the view, better get a seat at the terrace or you could end up feeling like having lunch at an IHOP. The view is not great from Albert’s, a shame because I bet it could have been outstanding, but from the terrace you’ll at least have a glimpse of a small waterfall and the nice feeling of the open-air breeze –might get chilly depending on the season. Secondly, service is friendly and polite, probably not as knowledgeable about the menu and its preparation but nothing you cannot live with. Thirdly, food barely scratches the good tier, likely far from the quality of a restaurant you have to book a table for, but doable for a zoo restaurant; pasta and chicken were good, but you definitely want to stay away from the steak, which was fatty and beyond the proper doneness. On the adult side of the story, seems like you can get here some beers and drinks not available at other lunch locations –though not 100% sure about it, maybe they are indeed available somewhere else. Lastly, although reasonably priced, I keep wondering who wants to spend around $80 per person for lunch while visiting the zoo; whilst up to each one’s preferences, I don’t think I’d do it again.

+1

Francis

Was really hoping to have a nice quiet meal here but unfortunately it was not meant to be! The location is definitely very nice with beautiful waterfalls which you can't hear at all due to the overwhelming sound of yelling kids and crying babies. I guess it was due to the long weekend because previous reviews mentioned how quiet it was but be careful since that is clearly not the case on weekends. The food is seriously overpriced as well and service was friendly but very slow. We had the quesa birria tacos which to be fair were good but in no way are they worth $24! We also had the tuna melt which was fine but nothing special. We knew the place would be overpriced like everywhere else in the zoo but our thinking was paying more to get some quiet rest as others suggested but I definitely don't think that's the case on weekends.

Tareq Barakzoy

The food was mediocre. I had the butternut squash soup and it was the thickest soup I had ever had. I think it’s Vegan because I didn’t taste the chicken flavor you get from the chicken broth. The double stacked fried chicken sandwich was truly pile hi and spicy. The service was great.

Made a reservation with outside seating a must. Arrived at our allotted time and they sat is indoors. After getting that issue resolved we got our outside sitting, after being asked to wait another 10-15min. Took our server another 10 min to come and acknowledge we were there. Food was really good though

The short rib tacos were the worst tacos I have ever had. They were covered in oily, buttery grease. I had to ask for extra napkins for my hands and to sop up the grease on the plate. I should have sent them back. The server knew I was not happy because I told her but no offer to bring something else.

My mom got a Ceasar salad that she said was awful, the chicken was poor quality, and it was way overpriced for what it was. She asked for bread which they said would be 2 bucks, they brought a regular hamburger bun and the bill showed 3 bucks so it was a bad experience for her. The butternut squash soup was really good, the tuna melt was ok, the chicken sandwich looked great and was very large, the steak salad looked good but a small portion, and if you don't have a reservation you apparently might have a long wait. There's no competition for a decent restaurant here, since it's in the zoo, but my mom was so turned off it was unfortunately the worst part of her day. They hopefully will fix this.

Ryan's

Have eaten here at least 10x and the food quality has dropped off pretty bad. The Brussel sprouts came out and they were very burnt and black, with a pile of burnt loose leaves. No green anywhere, and just disgusting. They did remake them and the 2nd time was just OK but still lacked that savory crunch amd flavor. Not worth $17... ⭐️ My son got the tacos which were fine and as expected, but not super flavorful like they used to be. ⭐️⭐️ I got the 'double' chicken sandwich. I usually take 1 chicken off as it is to thick to eat and my son usually eats it. Today they decided to cut the patty in half to make it a double stack. So half the chicken at the same price. The chicken was well over cooked and not way to crunchy. You can see how dry/overcooked the chicken was.⭐️ The fries were good, they used to be outshined by all the delicious main courses. Not anymore I guess. ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️ It was quite and not busy at all. I would have been much happier eating anywhere else at the Zoo (not Treetops Cafe, avoid that place at all costs). Even with the pass discount it was not worth over $50 for the meal. Which is sad as the food used to be spot on or better all the time.

+2

The restaurant had been open for 15 minutes with one group in front of us and we had to wait almost 10 minutes to be seated. The young man who sat us grumbled at us and didn’t make eye contact. Waited almost ten minutes to even be greeted at our table. Food was good but not quality expected for the price. Our waitress disappeared once we received our food. Drinks were not refilled and plates were not cleared. I had to get up to get us napkins and to get our check. I paid in cash, waitress took off our zoo membership discount, but only gave back change for the first total. Had to get the manager to get it fixed. Don’t waste your time and money coming here.

If the ultimate goal of going to a restaurant is to get a nutritious meal without getting food poisoning then this place was a fail. This was about 2 PM and I had had nothing to eat since a bowl of cereal early that morning. The service was impeccable. The atmosphere was very nice and the presentation of the food was great. While visiting the San Diego zoo and not wanting to get the typical fair food, I asked around and was directed to Albert’s restaurant. The place looked nice and the staff was very friendly. The menu was varied as to cater to most taste. I ordered a flat steak salad with the steak being cooked to medium. Everything looked and tasted good. It was a $30 entrée. I believe it was their most expensive one. However, five hours later I started to have indigestion and diarrhea by midnight I was throwing up having severe diarrhea, chills, and severe stomach, cramps. It took about 36 hours before I had to recovered . The next morning I called and spoke to the manager just to let them know in case there was a systemic problem. She was gracious and understanding and informed me that she will look into it and that they had served over 50 other people the same dish and was not aware of anyone else Being sick. She even offered me a free meal if I ever get back to the zoo, which I politely refused. I offered to leave my name and phone number in case, but she never asked for it and I decided to let it go. I am very confident that the problem was with the meat. Hopefully, this was an isolated incident as I have a very strong stomach and had never experienced something like this before.