50 Best American Restaurants near Rancho Santa Fe

“Charming cottage has the best food and atmosphere!“

“One of our special date night places when in the San Diego area. Outdoor seating is great and food is wonderful. Rancho Santa Fe in the evening is quiet and you can just have a nice conversation over dinner.“

“Ambiance, service, exceptional food (Dover sole, branzino) - simply elegant“

“Our first time at the Pony Room, for my birthday. I googled it and saw all the great reviews,. so we decided to check it out with friends. So glad we did! What a hidden gem for these foodies. Great variety on the menu for everyone and large portions that are very shareable. I had the Hamachi Crudo, two of my dining partners had the burger, which was amazing but splittable, another diner had the lamb popsicles, he said they were wonderful, but needed a little more spice. We all shared the pear salad, I loved the lavender dresssing. We also had the focaccia, so good! Our Italian friend said it was good but should just be called bread as it's not traditional focaccia. I loved it, but I tend to agree as my family also owns a traditional Italian restaurant. We shared teo bottles of wine, which are a very good value according to my ex-Somm husband. We will absolutely be back, and bring our friends. Stewart, our server was exceptional and made the experience even more awesome. I gave ambience four stars because although the entire place was absolutely beautiful, the bar, the entry courtyard and the outdoor patio we could see from our table, our actual table was in a corner of the plastic lined patio, which took away from the total ambience for me and felt a bit claustrophobic . I'm sure as soon as it warms up they will take the plastic away, but for me, next time I would request to sit inside the bar area or somewhere more open. Overall a wonderful find, you'll see us again soon!“

“Ava our server was just so amazing! Such a great attitude and got our food/ beverages out in a timely manner. Definitely would give that girl a raise!“

“My husband and I came here once and it’s now our favorite place to come eat! A woman Trudy who works there is an absolute super star! She is always going above and beyond to make the experience even better, the food is a plus ? don’t miss out on the grandmas Mac and cheese. It’s the best I’ve ever had!“

“best chicken fried steak and gravy this side of El Paso“

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

“Really appreciated that they had a vegan option and knew what they were doing (the receipt stated that the brioche bun would be ciabatta, mayo would be subbed for plant-based mayo, cheese would be vegan cheese). It was really good, more than the typical burger, even with added arugula. Well-priced, great service, wonderful ambiance.“

“Great place! Excellent service! Delicious food!“

“Friendly and courteous staff, high quality and delicious food! Love their drinks and desserts as well. The menu is not overwhelming for me to choose! Lovely atmosphere!“

“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.“

“Great vibes everyone is super friendly loved the service! 🍷😀“

“Have always had a great experience at The Money Pit; except for today (10/28/24). My wife and I stopped for lunch and ordered 2 hamburgers, 1 fry, and 2 drinks. At the time of ordering your employee gave me a to-go carrier for the two drinks, and I told her that we were eating at the Money Pit. She gave me two cups for the drinks. I paid the bill of $20.04 with cash, and she gave me my change. She seemed very put out that I was not taking the drinks and food out. Anyway, when they brought the meal, there were 3 hamburgers, not 2. I said I ordered 2 and she basically told me I was lying and walked away. If you get a server about 30-35 years old, 5'4" tall, with glasses at the Money Pit expect to be treated in a rude matter. Never happened to me in the past (over 10 years of eating there), and I hope you don't have to deal with this employee.“

“Beautiful Ambiance, Friendly Servers and Delicious Foods. Highly Recommend this place. Cheers!“

“Awesome spot!! Good beer and good sandwich’s“

“Loved eating here the mall that this location in is very nice with lots of seating overlooking the fountain and things to see. The food was delicious, even my picky toddler enjoyed her grilled cheese. Definitely will eat here again when I am in town!“

“Amazing atmosphere! Fantastic food and service! A go to destination! You will not be disappointed 👏🏼“

“We attended the 20th annual Celebrate the Craft. It was fantastic and we thoroughly enjoyed the event. The waitstaff at the bar was friendly and provided excellent service.“

“Great food, friendly staff, great selection of adult beverages. Butcher shops.“

“It’s a beautiful restaurant in Carmel. It’s delicious. Serving sizes are huge and healthy. I loved all the healthy choices they had. I ended up trying the beat salad. It was amazing!“

“First time here. I’ve heard how great it was. Service was great. Food came in timely manor. And they sell homemade pies. Mmm“

“Lovely local brunch spot with a fresh breakfast menu. Nothing felt greasy and portions are more than fair for the price. The staff is also very sweet.
My recent addiction is their Ube Latte - sub with coconut milk. Perfect for someone who wants a cozy drink but isn't a coffee lover.“

“Delicious food and great value, great atmosphere“

“I've been a customer of theirs for a long time and the reason is simple, the food is super healthy and it tastes good too. Also, the portions are generous, and all for all for a good price.“

“I’ve been dining at Le Papagayo’s for 20+ years. I love the atmosphere, ambience, live music, and fabulous food. It’s a down to Earth place and you can come casual or dressed up! This place will not disappoint.“

“It's one of our favorite brunch spots in North County! The menu is filled with yummy options. I haven't found anything on the menu that I would recommend yet! The fried green tomatoes and okra are good starters. The scrambles and stuffed french toast are our go-to favorites. They will bring a little bowl of huckleberries to your table, so don't forget to ask for some. They are soooo yummy, especially with a biscuit.

Highly recommend this restaurant.“

“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.“

“Duffs is a great go to place for great quality hot dogs and more. smiling, friendly people work there.“

“Awesome drinks ,food-and fantastic service“

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

“Solana Beach Kitchen was amazing. Each dish was spectacular. Loved the Surf & Turf Nachos, the Calamari was the best I have ever had. The Mac n Cheese with brisket was a recommendation from the fabulous Tracy and it was incredibly delicious. Everything was so good that we returned the next night!! Highly recommend SB Kitchen.“

“The girls of Girl Scouts troop 2999 want to thank Debbie’s Pie shoppe for the wonderful pie!! It was tasty and wonderful. Thank you #girlscoutstrong“

“Family friendly. Dog friendly. Nice patio. Mimosas. Biscuits and gravy. Corn beef hash. Chocolate chip pancakes. Rueben sandwich.“

“Amazing food and service. You must try the Bread Pudding. I loved the one of a kind drinks with the adorable garnishments. The atmosphere was warm and inviting.“

“It was about noon as I left my Doctors office and feeling a little hungry. I say Pegah’s Kitchen next door and gave it a try. The staff were all very professional. I had their Italian omelette and if I had to rate it on a one to 10 scale with 10 being the best, I would give it a 12. This is the Vista location. Highly recommend this place for breakfast and lunch, as they are not open for dinner.“

“Good food and coffee, perfect set up for business professionals, meetings, laptop work etc. good vibes overall, staff is super friendly as well. I randomly found this place on Google and a year later it is still my favorite place to work from. “

“All aspects are relatively in line with my standards. The food is good. Maybe the portion is too small for those with big appetites. I still can’t eat it. ?Photos will be uploaded when I have time. ?The rolls are good. The ice cream is also okay. The main presentation is good.“

“I enjoyed the Ginger Miso salad“

“So many options in their menu, it made it hard to choose. We all loved the burgers! I didn’t see a difference between Medium Rare and Medium but it still tasted good. The only issue was timing. I think we waited for an unreasonably long time until our meal was served but they must have been busy. I would go again!

Kid-friendliness: Kids loved the meal. The quesadilla looked like something I would want to order!“

“Great food, fun and quirky vibe.“

“Met some friends at Amalfi Dockside about a week ago. The food was superb!!! We also enjoyed the wonderful entertainment provided by Relic Ruckus....“

“I absolutely love this place. I have been going here since I was a teenager and now love coming with my two little boys (my dates). We sit outside and watch the cool surf videos on TV and enjoy the laid back atmosphere and incredible food. This has truly become our go to when we want to get out of the house and enjoy a great meal, some fresh air, and lovely staff.
I stopped in after work recently with about 30 minutes to spear before I had to be somewhere. I mentioned this to Jason who greeted me when I arrived, and we quickly started chatting about our children and other related things. He knew I was in a hurry and immediately took my order when I was pretty sure he was a Manager and doing this just to be accommodating. My meal and drink arrived almost immediately and I was approached several times by him and the waitress after that to check on me and see if I needed anything else. I was out of there with time to spare and so grateful for the kindness I encountered there, especially after the week I'd had. I am grateful for this little spot so close to home and appreciate every aspect of Islands from the food, the staff, the ambiance, and the yummy drinks. Thank you Islands for doing what you do so well and caring about your customers, and thank you Jason for being such a bright light in a dim week. Your kindness and willingness to go above and beyond to make my visit so pleasant was appreciated more than you know!“

“We decided to try Bellamy’s for the first time and happened to mention to the hostess while making our reservation that we were celebrating our 64th wedding anniversary. When we arrived, We were warmly welcomed first by the bartender who seated us and then by the hostess who enthusiastically congratulated us and offered something special. Our waiter was friendly and attentive and perfectly timed our meal selections. The food was outstanding. First we had the watermelon salad which was wonderful. Then the calamari and shrimp appetizers - yum! My husband enjoyed the cioppino and I had the seabass - all perfectly prepared and delicious. We topped it off with a creme brulee and the butter cake! Needless to say we enjoyed every bite. This was a perfect choice for our anniversary and we intend to return for another culinary experience at Bellamy’s.“

“Here visiting from NC. I by chance stumbled upon 7 Mile Kitchen. The food was absolutely amazing and the service was just as wonderful. Henry greeted me with such an amazing smile and made me feel so welcome. He gave great suggestions of his favorite dishes when I asked. He made sure I had everything I could possibly need, loved the personal touches. I also, met Lindsey and she was very welcoming as well. They both were very engaging in conversation and I appreciated it very much seeing as though I am traveling for work. At no time did I feel like a stranger. Thank you 7 Mile Kitchen for a wonderful meal, great service and a warm home away from home feeling!“

“Love eating here! Great customer service, delicious food, and a perfect ambiance. Immediately a new favorite and looking forward to our next visit!“

“Chef Felix and family put together an excellent meal. Every. Single. Day.I've been going here for 4+ years and am still going back. Everytime Chef curates, weekly, a menu and will even still make you almost anything you can cook on a skillet. From flatbreads, to home made soups, and a Cubano I would fight you for, they make a bit of everything.¡Provecho!“

“Amazing staff and ambience! Newly renovated and beautiful interior offers guests a Victorian classic country club vibe. I highly recommend calling ahead or arriving early to be seated outside next to the 18th hole. I always love when a menu has GF noted. The tostada was difficult to eat but worth the effort. The heirloom tomato salad was to DIE for, I would eat that everyday. The oysters were small and didn’t carry a lot of meat so I wouldn’t order again. Veal chop was cooked to perfection, the capers in the sauce offered a delectable sour taste that complimented the cream and pearl onion. The corn crème brûlée should be a dessert. Truly a lovely restaurant with amazing staff like our waiter Alex. A steakhouse is a steakhouse, you get what you come for.

Vegetarian options: Salads are your largest options without considering fish.

Dietary restrictions: Gluten free noted on the menu!!

Wheelchair accessibility: All on one floor.“

“Live music and the food are great at the Roxy“

“The short rib nachos with Pizza Port Ale has been our go to during football season 🙌“