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“

“We used to live in the neighborhood where The Pony Room is located, so naturally, we were “regulars”. Ten years ago we relocated to North Scottsdale, but like many full time Zonies we travel to San Diego a few times every year and always enjoy The Pony Room a couple times a year. The service is the best, the menu is excellent and you can't beat the outdoor seating, especially at sunset. We enjoy the lamb lollipops, salmon and Dover sole. When I retired last year, I took my whole firm for an amazing dinner. Everyone from New York and San Francisco loved it!“

“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.“

“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!“

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

“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!“

“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.“

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

“Stopped by The Melt at Del Mar Highlands and was thoroughly impressed. The BBQ Bacon MeltBurger was juicy with a perfect balance of smoky bacon and tangy sauce. The garlic parmesan fries were crispy and flavorful, making them a great side. The staff was friendly and attentive, adding to the overall positive experience. If you're in the area and craving a satisfying meal, The Melt is a solid choice.“

“The staff was friendly and attentive. So many good things to eat or try. Highly recommend.“

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

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

“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 place! Excellent service! Delicious food!“

“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.“

“If you’re in the Poway area and need a bite to turn your frown upside down look no further. You’ll be seated fast indoor or outdoor and waited on without delay. Food is delicious and staff is friendly. Highly recommend chicken fried steak, the gravy should be the envy of every diner in Southern California.“

“! I wouldn’t go anywhere else“

“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.“

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

“Delicious food and great value, great 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.“

“My first time I California and this was the best place! I tried a couple places and this pace had the best food and drinks! And the crew was amazing!“

“This bustling place has been growing. I’d love to see one or two up North in Oregon. Good skate parks and beers. Or maybe I just have enjoy the SOCal that much.“

“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.“

“Cute comfort food joint with some Cajun flair! Went for brunch on a Sunday morning around 11am, and there was about a 10 minute wait for a party of 3. Food was ready fairly quickly, though.

Ordered stuffed french toast and a Belgian waffle, both with huckleberry topping. They were excellent, though fair warning, the topping is not warmed up before going on. Any eggs/meats/other sides need to ve ordered separately, a la carte, unless otherwise specified.“

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

“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.“

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

“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!“

“I enjoyed the Ginger Miso salad“

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

“I recently dined at The Henry for the first time with another guest. From start to finish an elegant and unpretentious experience. The Henry had come highly recommended and did not disappoint. We were greeted warmly and although we were slightly ahead of our reservation time, we were accommodated graciously. Once seated, we were greeted by our server. Julia who provided excellent customer service throughout our dinner. Menu options were diverse but offered great choices. I can tell you the Scottish Salmon was outstanding and our salads fresh and lightly dressed. I subtracted 1 star for ambience because the acoustics when busy were quite noisy. If you're looking for an upscale dining option, treat yourself to The Henry. Can't wait to return!“

“Extensive menu has food and drink that is something for everyone. Great vibe I really enjoy coming here with my mom. It's quieter than Chili's. Really comfortable seating and spacious. Great desserts too with some delicious options you don't see everywhere. Easy access and easy parking.“

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

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

“Pancakes are so good! One order is enough for two. And wherever they get their bacon? Delicious!“

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

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

“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“

“We had such an amazing experience with our server Jo Jo. She was very knowledgeable on all the items on the menu that we had questions about. Gave great recommendations! She is so friendly and makes sure you are enjoying your experience. The food was also great but I would come again just for how great the service was!“

“Came in here to work for a couple of hours, it’s a lovely spacious,airy place with lots of natural lighting and high vaulted ceilings! It’s definitely a hidden gem cafe. The lunch was really good too, and the staff are really pleasant and efficient. Also, the Wifi is free and pretty good.
For food: we had the Latte, Breakfast Burrito, Bread Pudding and tomato soup.
Parking: There’s free street parking.
Lots of outlets for charging.
Indoor and Outdoor seating available.“

“Great food and server she was on top of it“

“Excellent Thai food in a beautiful setting. You will love the ambience, the food and the service.
The place is nicely decorated, the most beautiful food I have been to. Everything we tried was excellent, cannot recommend highly enough.
The roti and curry is delicious and a must try. Soups are nice and perfect for winter nights.“

“I hosted our team holiday happy hour here on the veranda and will ABSOLUTELY be back in the future. The atmosphere was wonderful, the service impeccable, and the food and drinks were delicious. Top notch experience that we all fully enjoyed!“

“Bushfire never disappoints! Every dish is packed with unbelievable flavor, fresh ingredients, and that homemade quality you can taste in every bite. The portions are generous, the food comes out hot and perfectly cooked, and the menu has something amazing for everyone.

The staff is friendly, the service is quick, and the whole experience feels warm and welcoming. Whether it’s your first visit or your tenth, the consistency is incredible.

Honestly—this place serves some of the best food ever. Highly recommend!“

“I came in one morning they were very busy full area plenty of customers I walked in through the front door the staff greeted me immediately asked me if I would be dining and I said no just needed to order a breakfast sandwich for my fiance the wait was not long the food was fresh I would recommend coming here for breakfast“

“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.“

“Definitely great burgers!“