1919 - San Marino

This place is great and the staff are all kind. The bad reviews are from entitled Karens and Richards who think they know everything and want to be coddled. It was insane to see how stupid and arrogant the customers here are. So definitely don 't be discouraged from visiting this place based on the bad reviews; you 'll probably have a good time as long as you 're not a Karen.

This cafe is conveniently located close to the gift shop and entrance to the Huntington Library. You do not need a ticket to get in and eat at this cafe. We always come here after spending couple hours in the garden. Either get a drink or sweets They have a variety of food stations from hot food/pizza/entrees , salad, sandwiches, grab n go, drinks, desserts and ice cream! A cafeteria type of set up. Get what you like, pay at the cashier then find a table. Tables are cleaned out pretty quickly. We came after the lunch rush at around 2 so couple tables were opening up. They have seatings both indoor and outdoor. Personally i like the patio seating more to enjoy sunny outdoor and plants.

What's up: After strolling through the gardens on a hot day, we decided to come here to grab some drinks from the fridge cool off. But oh look, there's a BAR!!! This review is mainly for the Bar because...who needs seltzer from the fridge when there are real drinks?! Hahaha. Parking: Plenty of parking available since we arrived early. You will need tickets to the Huntington to gain access to the cafe. Environment: The bar is located in the center of the cafe. Menus were displayed on the bar and we grabbed any of the open seats at the counter. You could also place your order at the counter and grab any of the open tables nearby to enjoy your drink. Walter was our man! He was setting up when we sat down and took our orders; and he made them strong and delicious! Walter was super friendly and we had a fun chat with him during it time there. Restrooms are located not too far from the bar and are clearly marked. What was ordered: Whiskey Bramble (tasty and refreshing with fresh blackberry bits) Yay/Nay/Meh: Yay. I'm glad we decided to stop at the bar. Walter made our experience so fun with the yummy drinks and his entertaining stories. Credit cards are accepted.

Bearing in mind eateries on museum grounds are always more expensive, the food tasted good. We came here for Mother's Day, usually we go to Top's Burgers before going to The Huntington, but I wanted to eat at 1919 for a change. I tried the taco bowl with carne asada this time. Other times, I've just had the pizza, which was fine. The server was polite, but he forgot to give me the tostada shells, I had to ask for them, and even with that, he only gave me two. I asked for another because I thought two shells were a rip-off. He obliged. So, it's a mystery what the proper number of tostadas you're supposed to get, but I think 3 is fair. My son and his dad got burgers and fries. I heard no complaints about the burgers themselves, but they thought there could have been a bit more fries! Also, remember that the Grill station is the most popular, so there will be a build-up of people waiting for their food. The other stations are quicker, which are the Sandwich/Salad, the Mexican, and the Pizza. There's free ice water across from the Grill station. Be prepared to hunt for a table, inside is easier than outside.

We opted for the prepared takeaway, and I’m glad we did. Eating healthily in a limited setting can be quite challenging, but this option made it manageable. I chose the Grilled Chicken Caesar Wrap. The main concern with this wrap is the Caesar dressing, which can be quite heavy, but thankfully it was light here. The other ingredients were mostly healthy—check out the photo of the packaging label for details. As you can see from my wrap picture, there was a good amount of chicken breast, lettuce, and tomatoes. I avoided the excess tortilla. As for the flavor, it was decent, but the grilled chicken had a very subtle taste. The Protein Box, which consisted of chicken breast, cheese, almonds, and a hard-boiled egg, was straightforward. However, the grilled chicken breast was slightly overcooked, resulting in a mild flavor. Everything else met my expectations. Overall, the takeaway section was super convenient and quick, and considering the setting, I found it to be reasonably priced.