Shore Thing Cafe

8080 La Jolla Shores Dr.

Monday to Friday:  6:30 a.m. to 4 p.m.

Saturday and Sunday:  7 a.m. to 4 p.m.

Price: $

Stars: 4/5

Avenida de la Playa, known for its high-class dining options like Piatti and Barbarella, is riddled with a whole slew of iconic five-star locales where you can blow through your paycheck like a kid blows through Halloween candy. And while there really is nothing else like Piatti’s mushroom ravioli, step back and take a moment to consider Shore Thing Cafe. Located right on the corner of La Jolla Shores Drive and Avenida de la Playa, Shore Thing awaits you at the forefront of the street like a tremendous flag saluting the overpriced restaurants of La Jolla’s past, begging you not to spend the fruits of your labor on a place where a loaf of bread costs more than your date’s Rolex wristwatch.

Shore Thing boasts a modern interior — silver tables and chairs — that starkly contrasts its pre-remodel repertoire, which sported a lighter beach hut atmosphere and bore the name Squires Cafe. To all you die-hard Squires fans who would rather drink your own urine than betray the cafe you once knew and loved, Shore Thing only appears different to the naked eye. So, please, remain calm and don’t make a U-turn until you’ve taken a bite out of your usual The Shores (a turkey sandwich with brie cheese and cranberry sauce) and find that not a single thing has changed, down to the very lettuce-to-tomato ratio.

If you’re feeling spontaneous, take a chance on the Black’s Beach sandwich: combination roast beef, cheddar, lettuce, tomatoes and spicy mustard. Vegetarian? Put your money on The Fields sandwich, a medley of greens, red peppers, avocado, sunflower seeds and a special sauce only employees are privy to. If this menu’s not tempting enough, Shore Thing is sure to win your vote with its generous staffers who are passionate about the foam on your cappuccino — finally, someone who understands — and take the time to etch a symmetrical heart into your caffeine addiction.

And because of its beachfront location, Shore Thing gets a bushel of tourists. This has its pros and cons. Pro: You can have coffee with people from all over the world. Con: You can’t even drink your coffee because you’re ceaselessly giving directions to the nearest drugstore.

Shore Thing’s best feature? Definitely its on-the-go pastries which, depending on the staff’s mood, can be anything from danishes to gluten-free chocolate chip muffins. These pastries — like all pastries should be — are random and unpredictable. Your best bet is to simply show up committed to the element of surprise. Most baked goods are under $5, so what have you got to lose? Pair that with a heavy-duty macchiato, and you’re ready to tackle the rest of the day.

Lesson learned: Next time you’re hunting down a delicious way to wrap up your beach day, bypass the Marine Room, another bulky bully that’ll sink its teeth into your wallet, and make your way to La Jolla Shore’s most revered cafe.