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.“

“Consistently Outstanding – A Rancho Santa Fe Favorite

My wife and I have the pleasure of dining at The Pony Room frequently, and it has become one of our absolute favorite spots in Rancho Santa Fe. Whether it’s breakfast in the morning sun or dinner under the stars, each visit offers a perfect combination of exceptional food, thoughtful service, and a welcoming atmosphere.

The culinary team always delivers beautifully prepared dishes, and the staff’s attention to detail ensures every meal feels special. Beyond the daily dining experiences, we also love attending the special events they host — they’re always creative, well-executed, and highlight the unique charm of the property.

The Pony Room consistently exceeds expectations and captures the spirit of true hospitality. It’s a place we return to again and again with joy and appreciation.“

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

“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 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“

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

“What a surprise! This is not your normal coffee shop located in an office building. It has indoor seating that can easily fit 50+ people. They have a beautiful outdoor patio that can fit another 40 people. I see a sign here at my table, that says you can even have an event here that they will host for you. In addition to Coffee and espresso, they serve beer and wine, as well as smoothies and organic juices. I had about three hours to kill between meetings and wanted to try something other than the usual coffee houses and this was a wonderful surprise. In summary, this is a great meet up location with lots of private, intimate seating areas and as I’m posting this, I’m watching one of the employees meticulously arrange flowers on the counter as an added little welcoming touch. Oh, I had their house coffee, and it was fabulous.
Enjoy!“

“Great place! Excellent service! Delicious food!“

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

“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! 🍷😀“

“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.“

“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 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.“

“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!“

“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.“

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

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

“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!“

“Vanessa was really friendly at the counter and bringing it the food AND cleaning dishes up. So nice!! Also the good was A1, to notch, amazing! En Fuego Burger delivered on good spice/great, great fresh ingredients, and perfectly cooked! (I ordered medium rare) Then those sweet potatoes fries... There is no way to make them better than how they do it here!!! I need to come up here to MTB more often so I can come here after! Oh, and everyone else loved their meals too.“

“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.“

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

“Delicious food and great value, great atmosphere“

“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“

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

“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.“

“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.“

“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 wouldn’t go anywhere else“

“I had high hopes for Huckleberry’s—this was our first time visiting, and my husband and I love exploring new breakfast spots. Breakfast is one of our favorite meals of the day, so we were excited to try it out.

The experience started off well. Our waiter was friendly and attentive at first, but unfortunately, he didn’t check on us again until we had to flag him down for drink refills. That lack of follow-up really affected our overall impression.

When the food arrived, it didn’t come out all together. My husband and I got our plates first, but his potatoes were cold and his English muffin wasn’t toasted at all. My son’s meal—chicken tenders and fries—arrived much later than ours.

On the bright side, I really enjoyed my meal. I had the Bananas Foster with scrambled eggs and fried green tomatoes—everything was absolutely delicious. But it was disappointing to see my husband, who was looking forward to the meal, not enjoy his due to cold food and poor preparation.

Overall, while there were a few highlights, the inconsistent service and food quality—especially the cold plate—make it unlikely that we’ll return. There’s just no excuse for food coming out cold.“

“I enjoyed the Ginger Miso salad“

“Seasons Restaurant in Carlsbad is such a hidden gem! We stopped in for their Golden Hour menu and were seriously impressed--great prices, solid portions, and everything we tried was super flavorful. The vibe is upscale but still relaxed, and the service was friendly without being overbearing. Definitely recommend the Golden Hour for a chill evening with good food and drinks without breaking the bank. We'll for sure be back!“

“We enjoyed our lunch at Culinary Dropout. It's located in a very nice area which is easy to get to from the freeway. The wait staff was pretty friendly. It wasn't busy when we were there, which was nice. The restaurant has a lot of seating. It's relaxing and inviting.\n\nI don't recommend "yesterday's soup". It's way overpriced for what you get. The turkey pastrami sandwich is really good. My husband and I shared one sandwich and there was plenty for both of us.“

“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.“

“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.“

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

“Great breakfast place in Escondido. Love the setting of the restaurant, which makes you feel at home and outside patio is great also, except some flies..lol. The breakfast menu had so many great items. The lobster omelet i had was one of the best omelets I have eaten in a while. The staff are very friendly and that seems to make all the customers friendly also. Thank you. I really enjoyed your food and your service. Will definitely be back whenever I have a chance to visit Escondido, and next time, I will try your lunch menus.“

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

“our server Annie was so nice and the ranch is homemade and delicious. I got my free birthday burger one of the finest burgers on the menu. and I highly recommended the Rancho parkway Red Robin. food was delicious everything was good temperature freshly served quick and made to order delicious. 😊“

“Good food. Enjoyed the chicken and ribs, and pasta. Their breadsticks are awesome! Eat them when they're warm and out of the oven!“

“I had such a wonderful experience at this restaurant! The food was absolutely delicious, especially the French fries — perfectly crispy and flavorful. The staff was incredibly kind and welcoming; they went out of their way to make me feel comfortable and even helped me when I needed it the most. Their warmth and genuine care made the whole visit unforgettable. I truly recommend this place to anyone looking not only for great food, but also for exceptional service.“

“Great food, fun and quirky vibe.“

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

“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. “

“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.“