Traditionally, restaurants pick one category of food and perfect that. They spend all of their energy toward making the best breakfast or the best burger or the best Mexican or the best late night snack. Night and Day is not that. Instead, they encompass all of those areas and give you the best restaurant to go to when everyone you are with wants something a little different, and as an added bonus, they are the Coronado restaurant to occupy when you are hungry on weekend nights with 24 hour service.
Personally, I enjoy the pancakes of monstrous proportions. The kind so big you only order one and even then you are left with some to take home. The Mario Surf and Turf, named after former co-owner, Mario Esquer, is also very popular. It includes carne asada, large shrimp, french fries, cheese, guacamole, and jalapeño white sauce. The Hector Special, named after co-owner Hector Esquer, is also a favorite at Night and Day comprised of shrimp, jalapeño white sauce and cheese with cut up avocado on top. Well known dishes include fish tacos and Mahi Mahi fish tacos. Something else that really stands out is their breakfast all day, local favorites include the garbage omelet, and lately, a large number of Navy Seals have been ordering the Porker Omelet.
Not only does Night and Day draw in a huge military crowd, they also serve many CHS students during lunch time, and with an expanding social media following they have had quite a few tourist start populating the cafe. Besides the food, Night and Day is great source of entertainment, conveniently located between 8th and 9th on Orange Avenue, perfect for people watching. Co-owner Jody Esquer discusses how last week customers and staff witnessed a naked man riding down Orange on his bike!
Night and Day has been around since 1927 and while several staple menu items have remained consistent, there have been major changes- especially in the last three years. Night and Day Cafe underwent renovations such as raising the counter, adding high bar stools, changing the floors, painting the walls, and starting to serve beer and wine from 11AM to 11PM with Coronado Brewing Company beer on draft. Often times, customers dislike change, however, Jody remarks “people still think of us as a fun place to go hang out and be small town, I think that is what gives us the charm.”
Family owned and operated is a phrase used to describe many businesses in Coronado, and for good reason. Part of the reason Coronado is so special is the people in Coronado and the generations that call it home. Night and Day is truly a family business. You can see Doerte come by in the mornings, Doerte’s daughter in law Jody bringing in fresh groceries daily, Doerte’s son, Hector, behind the scenes, and Hector and Jody’s daughter, Allie, serving weekend evenings and during the summer when she is off from school. The entire staff of Night and Day consists of less than ten employees which gives regular customers the opportunity to get to know the staff and develop relationships. Also, the closeness of the restaurant itself gives customers the unique opportunity to watch the chef cook their meals right in front of them.
What also makes the Coronado community so special isn’t only how close residents are with one another, but also how they share the closeness Coronado experience with others. Night and Day is a prime example of that. Jody recounts a story of a few weeks ago when a school from Canada asked if Night and Day could accommodate about twenty special needs students for breakfast. She says, “we knew all of their names, and they would pick their own menu.” On his experience, the chaperone, Jamie, told Jody that, “truly this is a special place because you don’t get this all the time where someone can accommodate all of our kids. They come in and they feel comfortable and feel special because some of them wanted an egg or a pancake a certain way. The kids give their requests and they are accommodated.”
Day or Night, if you are looking for good food, friendly staff, and an entertaining time, Night and Day is the place for you.
Night and Day Cafe is located at 847 Orange Avenue, open from 6AM-1AM Sunday-Thursday and 24 hours on Friday and Saturday. Follow them on Facebook, check out what everyone else is saying about them on Yelp, or read up on their website.
———————–
Alyssa Ballard
Staff Writer
Have a story you want to share? Contact us.
