43 Best American Restaurants in Carlsbad

“Great customer service!!!“

“We’re visiting Carlsbad and didn’t have dinner reservations, so after walking around the Village we decided to try our luck at the bar. We were told about 30 minutes for a table, or we could wait for seats at the bar. We chose the bar, met a nice couple while waiting, and had seats open up in about 15 minutes.

Really impressive place from the minute you walk in. The building, architecture, lighting and attention to detail are all extremely well done. Great atmosphere without trying too hard.

Josh took care of us at the bar and was outstanding. Made us cocktails right away, walked us through the menu and gave honest, down-to-earth recommendations. We couldn’t decide, so we sampled a few things. The deviled eggs were a standout, and the ribeye dip and fried chicken were both excellent.

What really made it was the combination of the atmosphere, food and service. Everything was on point without feeling overly formal or stuffy.

We’re from out of town, so unfortunately this probably won’t become a regular stop for us, but it’s one we’ll remember. Definitely left wishing we had more places like this back home. Exactly our kind of place.“

“We really enjoyed our lunch/dinner! Excellent chicken pot pie. Our waitress was Diane and she is top notch! Thank you so much !“

“fresh baked buns make all the difference. coffee shake, yum. got it in "Lil Moo" size“

“Great food and great service. The chicken was crispy, juicy, and full of flavor. The spice level was just right, and the portions were generous for the price. The staff were friendly and the restaurant was clean. Definitely one of the better hot chicken spots I’ve tried, and I’ll be coming back again.“

“Outstanding salads! Friendly staff!“

“Awesome food! We were in town at Carlsbad for the weekend, and visited it twice. Everything we tried was huge portions and fabulous! Servers and staff were very friendly, and very knowledgeable. If you are in the area, stop in and enjoy!!“

“Great food and great service from a very friendly and attentive staff! Had an awesome date night! Our first time here but won’t be our last.“

“We come here periodically and the food is always great. We appreciate the healthy choices, especially for our kiddos too. Even the soft drinks are yummy. I especially love their sauces and the chimichurri that comes with the empanadas is to die for. Our kids were having a rough time on one of our recent visits - our toddler was crying - and Louie was so kind and understanding. He saved the day with a couple of cookies for the kids. There was also an odd alarm going off behind their building that made it a little unpleasant to sit outside, but he found the security guard and got the issue fixed right away, which felt above-and-beyond. Coming here is always a little treat for our family, and we will definitely be back. Thanks Louie!“

“Desayuno muy rico cafecito y ensaladas deliciosas todo fresco ☕️😀“

“Super attentive service. From the Hostesses, wait staff to buss boys. Food is delectable. Entrees were well prepared, fresh ingredients, served hot & salads crisp. Highly recommended.“

“Jorge really made our night special, recommended delicious food, surprised us with a birthday dessert. He is a gem! Thank you for everything!
The vibe here is so cute and romantic. I really enjoyed my stay and meeting such sweet staff- so excited to come back!“

“Was a great idea stopping to Islands Food was great and waitress so wonderful I really recommended Thank you“

“I didn't want to go but am glad I did. Perfect size for a day trip. Not too big you get lost, and you can get thru it in 1 day. Food options were not good around closing. They all close an hour before the park so don't wait. Lines were not bad. Very clean restrooms. Very clean!
I would definitely go again, but would plan better. We went spur of the moment, still a good time. Excellent for little ones.
Parking is pricey....“

“The food is as good as it looks! I couldn’t believe it when my parents asked me if I wanted to go to a Revolutionary War tavern replica & museum near the beach in northern San Diego. Like, huh? But the building reminded me of growing up on the east coast, and the museum reminded me of how lucky we are to have this country & those who fought for it. I loved the cozy interior with brick and wood. My parents are regulars, so they know the server, and he was super nice. They have a great Old Fashioned, and we all got the Seafood Trio (mine with double cod). The fingerling potatoes were to die for. It was all delicious. Amazing Caesar salad, too. Definitely had leftovers. Excited to go back for their happy hour. Can’t wait to try wagyu sliders, mussels, and clam chowder. Seriously, it all sounds good. Definitely worth a trip! And you’ll be back to try it all 😁“

“Really enjoy coming here. I’ve been twice for breakfast and twice for dinner. Both dinner occasions were special occasions, I enjoyed eating inside more for dinner and outside more for breakfast. Dinner inside is a bit quieter and the ambiance is great. Outside was nice too but bees would fly by for breakfast and then for dinner there was a single fly trying to get our food.

Overall love it here, the service is great and food is delicious. I want to try lunch items, the breakfast portions are much bigger than the dinner portions. My favorite so far was the Scottish salmon which was a bigger portion than the Korean beef. And then their quiche, and avocado toast as well as their specialty cocktails.“

“excellent drinks & food.“

“Here, in this restaurant, you will find delicious food if it Is for breakfast or dinner and the price of each plate will vary depending on what you do order.If you are a member of IHG Rewards Club, then please charge everything to your room because that's the only way for you to accumulate hundreds of points so that you can get free nights, free merchandise or free airline tickets.“

“Muy rica la comida, la pasamos muy bien y la atención es muy buena.“

“The service was excellent, very prompt and friendly, with our waiter going out of his way to make sure my wife had the sides the way she wanted them. Beautiful views of the golf course, and a nice fireplace set the ambience. Main drawbacks were the music could have been a bit quieter, as we chose the restaurant with the goal to have some peace and quite, and the drinks were very expensive at over $20 each for the cocktails. The cocktails were delicious, just expensive.“

“After a long day of playing soccer, the entire team visited Notorious Burgers. We loved the appetizers, especially the brussels sprouts and fried pickles. They offered a variety of food for everyone’s liking. My cheeseburger was the black and blue, and it was heavenly. Next time we’re in Carlsbad, will be sure to eat there again Great spot!!!“

“The food is wonderful, plentiful and the service is excellent. The breadsticks and a side of marinara is a great start.“

“Just all around good food, and excellent service.“

“Definitely great burgers!“

“Good food, great service and nice patio area.“

“👍excelente comida, ambiente agradable“

“Good food for the price!!“

“One of our favorite spots in Carlsbad! The atmosphere is always so good, the beer selection is amazing, the food hits every time, and the staff truly makes this place what it is.

Steel and Cass are THE BEST. We specifically love coming in for San Diego Sundays because they make it such a fun time every single time. Such a great spot to come watch a game. The service is always incredible, they are so welcoming, so attentive, and they bring the best energy. They are a huge reason we keep coming back.

The beer selection is insane too. Tons of cans and bottles to choose from, so many great IPAs, and always something new to try. And do not sleep on the food. The burgers are all so good, the black truffle burrata is unreal, and the Getting Figgy With It pizza with prosciutto added, per Steel’s recommendation, is a MUST.

Perfect for lunch, beers with friends, date night, or just hanging out for a few hours. Great food, great drinks, great vibes, and even better people. Steel and Cass deserve all the hype. We love this place!“

“Awesome variety on the menu. There's something for everyone, and it's all quite good! Lots of good cocktails for great prices as well and every beer under the sun on tap. Great indoor and outdoor seating options. Good atmosphere. Food takes a little while but it's great if you want a solid sit down restaurant with variety.“

“Great drinks and authentic tacos.“

“Had a great dinner, our server Greg was amazing! Will definitely be back“

“Great food, staff and atmosphere.“

“The service, food and beer were OUTSTANDING! The server was knowledgeable and had ready recommendation, going so far as to bring us samples of ideal beer pairings with the food that we had ordered. Great experience and we will be returning!“

“We can always count on superior service at Juene et Jolie. Our server was Gavin. He's been our server many times and he always serves us with warmth and knowledge about the evening's offerings. He's part of the reason we keep coming back!( besides the fantastic food!) Keep it up, Juene et Jolie!“

“Friendly people were kind and understanding when it came for me to pick something. it was hard just to pick one item. I left with a delicious sweet strawberry refresher with popping boba, and came back for a CROFFLE! which can be served with multiple toppings, but I chose strawberries and vanilla ice cream! ...Worth it!!“

“Nice place. Had to wait for our drinks and food for a little while. We were also celebrating my son’s birthday and I thought they would do something special. Which the waitress just dropped off a cookie with whipped cream and took off No singing no wvwn saying happy birthday.“

“SKC is a nice place to stop for breakfast if you have your dogs with you and are looking for a gluten-free meal.

Our short rib and hashbrown cakes was very good, perfectly flavored on the mild-side, and a filling portion to enjoy.

Our Monterey omelet was missing something, we cannot figure out what should be added or left out. The bacon was great, but we lost the rest of the flavoring.“

“Great food choices. Great lobster bisque and grilled cheese sandwich. Prices in range with many others. Fun atmosphere for lunch. Has entertainment in the evenings. May have to be back for that. Will definitely be back to try other food options. Two others in the party enjoyed their smash burgers. Good service.“

“We had a lovely time. The food is soso good!“

“I've been going here since 97. I have never been disappointed with the quality or quantity of their food, its always delicious. Simon and Nazie are always friendly and pleasant.“

“Great, casual place to visit in Carlsbad! Outdoor patio -Pet/kid friendly setting downstairs, and an adult upper deck bar with ocean view and fire pits. Good food and craft beer, extensive drink menu! Walk up counter ordering, and fast service!“

“Outstanding service from our bartender Josie. Super positive and polite. We ordered a couple of cocktails and beers. Josie is the BEST. The Cove Bar and Grill is amazing for a hotel experience. Definitely coming back tomorrow to catch some rays by the huge pool. ❤❤❤“