Croutons Restaurant

After going to croutons for many years, this is still my favorite place for soup and salad! They have a very broad selection of soups, salads and sandwiches that you can mix and match in a combo. They have good brownies and I believe you get free ones on Fridays xD I am very picky about my greens especially when I find them wilting. I am happy to say that my salads have always been very fresh and crisp, never a wilted leaf.

Date of visit: 12/​10/​2015
We came here for a coworker’s birthday lunch and I was really happy about the speed of service despite it being a busy lunch day in Sorrento Valley. It took only about 5 minutes for our food to come out after ordering and despite the number of people in line, the cashiers worked quickly and efficiently.
Brownie Bite. Sometimes I like to eat dessert first and this was one of those days I couldn’t resist a nice, small brownie. I didn’t even get to take a picture of it, but I really enjoyed my brownie bite. Definitely something I recommend.
Italian Panini. I usually get the chicken pesto panini, but I was feeling like something different, so I opted for the Italian panini. I definitely prefer the chicken pesto, but this panini still tasted good. I liked dipping it in my soup and the peppercinis gave the panini a nice crunch and spice level.
Tomato Basil Soup. This is my go to soup at Croutons and is definitely a comfort soup for me. I feel that it’s more of a soup than a bisque due to the lack of creaminess, which is fine by me, and I really like the croutons that they toss in.
Overall, Croutons is a great choice if you’re in the area for lunch.

I have visited the one in OC and LOVEDDDDDDDD it! When I mentioned to a friend that I wish we had one down here she told me about this location. I have tried to go on the weekends, but unfortunately it only caters to the work week ;(-1
Secondly when I arrived today at 11am, there was a HUGE line. People standing out the door. Not to mention the parking was horrible. Luckily the line went fast to take my order, but the wait for my food was crazy. Not really their fault, they had people working it was just busy!
I didn’t give 5 stars b/​c I has SPECIFICALLY asked for my sandwich to be cut in half, the girl replied «we already do that»…hmm well if you did then I wouldn’t have been stuck pulling my sandwich apart while I was driving this afternoon and having the avocado falling out on my lap :(-2
I was also surprised to see that my salad had dressing on it already when I asked for it to go. Maybe you have to specify that you want it on the side.
The OC Croutons seems to have it a little more together… sorry.

I stopped in for lunch after a local doctor appointment and ordered the the Californian Panini which came with sliced oven roasted turkey breast, fresh avocado, applewood bacon, tomato, Swiss cheese, and mayo but I axed it. I also asked for a cup of the soup of the day, the avocado soup, and since it was Friday, the meal came with a mini brownie. It’s a Friday thing.
The soup was very good. It had a mild poblano flavor and a very good amount of chunks of fresh avocados, bits of red and green peppers, and a heavy hand at some herbs and spices which complemented the soup well. The soup had a modest creaminess and most of its softness coming from the creamy avocado pieces.
The panini was good. I did think it need more turkey and bacon, but what it came with tasted pretty good. The two sliced of bacon had a crisp texture and good flavor. The tomato slices had a sweet and acidic flavor, the avocado slices were creamy, and the Swiss cheese melted and had that good nutty flavor. The bread was very good and grilled nicely on the panini grill. A good sandwich that need a little more meats!
By the way, that free Friday brownie was pretty good.

Croutons is the spot. Fresh food. Perfect place to eat on a Monday when you need to balance out the crap you ate over the weekend and eat ~healthy. Their salads are on point, a wide variety of cheeses, vegs, and dressings. Also, their panini game is ridiculous. Order one panini and somehow receive two sandwiches, whaaaat. Go here if you enjoy food and eating.

This is my goto place for dank salads (well sadly ever since they closed their la jolla village location). Fresh avocado and delicious soups. They also have small brownie bites which the employees actually make themselves that are to die for! Amazeballs! Wish they had more locations all over San Diego.

Been coming here since they dropped their La Jolla location, definitely the best salads locally made. If I could I’d come here every single day, sadly they’re closed on Sundays.

I ordered margharita chicken sandwich and a small albacore tuna which are good as a combo. However I was kind of startled by the raspberry dressing I picked. The colour looks like cough syrup and it doesn’t taste good. I will stick to ranch in the future.

Croutons is one of my favorite places for lunch!
Love the Chicken Wild Rice Soup! So hearty!
To be honest, I haven’t tried any of the other soups!
LOL
The Californian sandwich is soooo good. I split it with my son because they are huge!
The mini brownies are OMG delish.

I LOVE CROUTONS!!!
Unfortunately, lunch time around this area is horrible. Anything from about 1130−130pm is a disaster. This is known as the Sorrento Lunch Hour… when all the workers in the area go to lunch. There is additional parking further down… good luck! You will find a spot, just get lucky or keep circling.
Yes, they are known for their seasoned croutons, they give you a little baggie with every soup you order. Paninis, flatbreads, salad and soups pretty much sums it up.
They are consistent throughout all the locations I have been to, and their food is fresh, hot and the service is friendly. You order at the counter, get a table number and they bring you all your utensils, napkins and food right out to you.
Even though it is a order at the counter place, the food quality is fantastic. They use high quality meats from Boar’s Head and their paninis come with those awesome grill marks.
My favorite is the marghertia chicken and their tomato basil soup. You know it’s the best soup when it’s available daily!
Do the you pick 2 option, the «half» panini is way large.
Enjoy!

Salads and sandwiches are huge; I always get half and half. Margherita Chicken sandwich and Mediterranean salad, both are super filling and delicious.
Never really had anything cause I like those two items so much, but I’ve tried their cornbread croutons and they are something else; LIKE NOTHING IVE EVER HAD. If you like croutons, give them a try and I guarantee you’ll enjoy them.
*Pricing is great for the size.

This place is so good. I eat here daily yet I don’t feel guilty because most of the menu is salad hence the name croutons. All the dressings are yummy and every sandwich weather a flatini or panini is awesome! It’s really busy at noon during the week since its next to Qualcomm but the staff is awesome as well and I have never had to wait long.

Croutons makes me super nostalgic towards my days at UCSD. When I went to UCSD, I would venture off-​campus and eat at the Croutons in the Ralph’s shopping plaza. It was and still is my favorite panini place! I always order the same thing because that combo completely satisfies my tastebuds and my belly. I always get the combo deal with the chicken pesto panini (with extra pesto mayo on the side for dipping) and the buffalo chicken salad with ranch (see my pictures). This is plenty of food for lunch! I sometimes order the brownie bites if I want to be extra bad. Their soups are all made from scratch and are equally as delicious as the other food items.
The parking at this location is kind of hard during prime lunchtime but I’ve managed to find parking every time.
Too bad they closed the other location! I highly recommend you try this place yourself!

Croutons is also a safe bet for lunch or dinner. The staff at this location is always friendly and helpful especially while managing the lunch time rush.

CROUTONS! So much good! Looking for a delicious and healthy place to eat? Look no further! I used to frequent them all the time when I was working in Sorrento Valley. This location makes me sad because they close pretty early. Looking for a healthy dinner? Too bad — because they won’t be open. But if you’re looking for lunch, then you’re set! They have a La Jolla location with later hours.
On to the good stuff! My favorites are the Mixed Berry salad, the Chicken and Wild Rice soup, and those amazing little brownie bites! They have a «Pick 2» combo where you can get ½ salad, ½ soup for $ 8 – 9. I’ve calculated, and I can get the Mixed Berry Salad, Chicken Wild Rice soup, and 2 brownie bites for under 900 calories. Sold!

While this was my first visit to this Croutons, I’ve been to the UTC location several times. I knew just what I wanted to order, my usual chicken pesto panini. I’m a fan of pesto and this simple panini with chicken breast, mozzarella and pesto mayo doesn’t disappoint! The only thing that would make it better would be fresh-​sliced tomatoes.
Croutons’ quick pace makes it a great spot to grab a bite to eat during lunch. Apparently you can call in to place an order for pick up, although I had trouble locating this service on the website. Perhaps they should advertise it a bit more online.

For soup and salad lunches in Sorrento Valley, it doesn’t get any better than Croutons! I eat here at least twice a week. All of their salads have really fresh, premium ingredients and the portion sizes are perfect. You can’t go wrong with the Pick 2 combo, because the soups are always great and paired with half size delicious salads it really can’t be beat in price or quality.
My favorites are the Napa or Sundance salad with chicken & wild rice soup or tomato basil.
I’ve only had the sandwiches and paninis a handful of times, so I can’t rave too much about them. But, what I have eaten there has always been good.
It is very popular between 11:30 and 1pm, so I highly recommend calling ahead to order. Always ready for me within 10 – 15 of my call!

I didn’t realize it was possible to have a more expensive, less delicious Panera, but gosh darn it, it is!
Yuck.

If I ever forgot to bring a lunch to work, Croutons is my go to spot in Sorrento Valley. It’s in the same center as Rubios and opera. That whole area can get super crowded during lunch hour. I would try to get in before the crowds come or call in your order.
If I’m feeling healthy, I get the Sundance salad. When I want something warm and I’m really hungry, I’ll get the ½ sandwich and soup combo, usually the vegetarian sandwich and tomato basil. Don’t think the ½ veggie sandwich is small– it’s pretty big! They pack it with cheese and veggies. I ask for ranch on the side bc if you don’t, the ranch can get overwhelming in the sandwich. The tomato soup is so good with the croutons!
My work often gets food catered from Croutons. The mixed berry salad and Caesar salad is delicious! And the mixed sandwiches are good too!
I would recommend Croutons if you’re around the area or even if you need something catered.

Can’t decide what you want for lunch? CROUTONS!
The perfect lunch spot any day of the week.
So many fresh, delicious options and everything I’ve tried is great.
I usually opt for the ‘choose 2′ (for $ 8! sweet!) — with half of their AMAZING Chicken Pesto panini and a small Pear and Blue Cheese salad. Holy mother. SO tasty. Perfect lunch — and so much food.
The Mixed Berry salad (w/​chicken) is also a go-​to of mine. Yum!
I’ll usually throw in a brownie or raisin walnut bite — because, carbs.
But really, they taste better than you’d expect — like really really good.
Oh and lets not forget — their croutons are really freakin’ good (you don’t say?!)