The view from Tobey’s 19th Hole (Facebook)
History, Restaurant, Balboa Park

Did You Know…

By Frank Sabatini Jr.

…that Tobey’s 19th Hole at the Balboa Park Municipal Golf Course is one of the oldest and most hidden restaurants in metro San Diego?

The family-owned restaurant opened in 1934, only a year after the legendary Waterfront Bar & Grill near Downtown San Diego came onto the scene. Until around 1999, about 75 percent of Tobey’s customers were golfers. These days it’s the other way around according to Steve Tobey, whose late grandparents, Chester and Lois, founded the eatery and reportedly grossed $9,000 from meal sales in their first year of operation.

From the main dining room and balcony, customers are afforded views of sweeping green lawns and the San Diego skyline. The bill of fare sticks to tradition with longtime favorites such as house-made corned beef hash, plump breakfast burritos, loaded omelets, liver and onions, and killer chili burgers.

Tobey’s is open daily from 6:30a to 6:00p.