Caesar Cardini Villa

Swan Song

Caesar Cardini Villa (1938-1939), was his home restaurant for several years, before the restaurateur Caesar Cardini (Caesar’s Place, Original Caesar’s Place, Caesar Cardini Cafe, Tavern Hacienda, Beacon Inn, Caesar Cardini Foods) moved with his family to Los Angeles. It is now a private residence.

Smailes Park Chula Vista ad, 1928

Newspaper ad for Smailes Park, 1928.

Caesar Cardini, Tijuana, 1935.

Caesar Cardini, Tijuana, 1935.
Photo, San Diego History Center.

His Spanish Colonial home was built in 1931 among the citrus groves of Smailes Park, Chula Vista. Just a convenient couple miles north of the Tijuana border. All one had to do was call for reservations, head on down the “road to Hell,” and look for his signs.

Caesar and brother Gaudencio Cardini’s home-cooked luncheons were 75¢ and dinners $1.00.

“Here he will serve luncheons and dinners, and private parties by appointment,” read a contemporary account. “Hundreds of thousands have known Caesar’s in Tijuana, later Caesar’s in San Diego, and most recently Caesar’s at Cardiff. In surroundings of the most delightful nature, Caesar is now prepared to serve his friends in a quiet and beautiful location, either in the spacious dining room or in the distinctive patio. Lunches and dinners are served daily…”

By 1940, Caesar and his family were in Montclair, Los Angeles minding a retail liquor shop. Faithful brother Gaudencio tagged along.

In 2012, the City of Chula Vista designated it the Caesar Cardini House, Historic Site #75.

 

the road to hell National City

Anti-Tijuana graffiti on National Avenue, National City, 1920s.

 


Notes

Citation: Martin S. Lindsay. ‘Caesar Cardini Villa.’ Classic San Diego: tasty bites from the history of America’s finest city. Web. <https://classicsandiego.com/restaurants/caesar-cardini-villa/>

“Hundreds of thousands” is from newspaper ads and ‘Caesar Cardini opens new C.V. dining room,’ Chula Vista Star, 16 Sep 1938.

“built in 1931” and “historic site #75” are from ‘Meeting of the Historic Preservation Commission, City of Chula Vista,’ agenda, 17 Apr 2013.

“were in Montclair” is from 1940 United States Federal Census, Los Angeles, Los Angeles, California; Page: 10B; Enumeration District: 60-341.

During Prohibition, the road leading down to Tijuana was known as — and even tagged at one point — ‘the road to hell.’ No doubt by well-meaning tea totallers. A fun read is ‘A trip to Tijuana over the road to hell,’ in The Coronado Strand, 22 Oct 1921.