Thank you to all the reviews that my Son Chef, Drew gas received! My son has busted his back perfecting,the best possible foods to serve to his customers.He is an amazing Man, I'm very proud to call Chef Drew, my son.
amy garris
This place has really chill vibes and INCREDIBLE food! The meats were done perfectly and the flavor of everything we ordered from sides to the sauces were mouth watering and savory! Hands down the best barbecue style food I’ve had in any state!
William and Diane Smith
Excellent bbq in North Park by Chef Andrew Bent of Lolita55 fame! The ala carte meat choices are a great way to sample starters and the hush puppies are to die for!! No happy hour unfortunately and drinks are pricey. Ambiance is spot on, a chic space.
Gay Garris-leviett
Outstanding service and food.Highly recommended for a great time, relaxation.The service is served with a smile.and the prices of the food is well worth your $...Enjoy San Diego
Joey M.
We stumbled into this place on a Monday night when we were in North Park. At first glance at the menu, it's clear that the food is meant to be an elevated barbecue spot. The menu options looked really great and the service was good. The food was interesting and gets an A for effort, but it feels like the chef is throwing the kitchen sink at every dish in an effort to create something interesting. In doing so, each dish seems to fail to get the fundamentals right and is really out of balance. We had the smoked cauliflower as an app. Had great flavors and very smoky, but the cauliflower was undercooked. My wife had a pork shoulder sandwich. There was so much pear, cheese, and other ingredients that it would have been easy to forget there was pork in the sandwich in the first place. The bread didn't hold up well at all to all the messiness, and the pork itself was maybe 10% of each bite. Felt to me that all the complexity was meant to hide the fact that the pork may not have been smoked but rather cooked in the oven. Similar experience with my fried chicken sandwich the Klepto - flavors were great, but there was just way too much of them. There was so much fresh dill on the sandwich that I had the taste of dill in my mouth the rest of the night. Again the bread didn't hold up well to the heft of the sandwich and all the ingredients. All in all it's a nice new spot and I'm sure the chef will figure it out as he gets more experience with this cuisine concept. Now it just seems like they are trying too hard with their menu and don't have the skill yet to create dishes with the level of complexity that they are going for. Great spot for a date, nice wine bar to accompany the food, and service is good. Worth a try.
Tony L.
This place is easy to accidentally walk by, look for Little Thief which this is a part of, there was only a small sign for Papalito on the side. Also as of December 10th they were no longer serving weekend brunch and will open at noon every day now instead of 10 on weekends. As our large party had made reservations a week before the change though, they honored the reservation and opened early for us, very much appreciated! Food was delicious! They only have a small selection, but its very tasty and creative. We got to try a lot of the options because of our party size. For appetizers, probably the best hush puppies I've had, usually you'd expect hush puppies to be boring but these had a great flavor, cooked perfectly crispy outside and moist inside, and tasty dipping sauce! Chicken Liver Pate was also done very well, I just wish there was more but thats sort of how pate is and its definitely worth it. The entree I got was the Rustler, the tri-tip was tender and cooked perfectly, the bread toasted just right, all the flavors blended together beautifully! Staff was awesome! Besides opening early for us, were super friendly, attentive, and helpful with food/drink choices. You should give this place a try, then another, keep coming back to taste all the options!
Mike D.
Overall solid dining experience. I did not have a reservation but was still able to get a seat at the tables near the windows without having to wait (only section they were seating without a reservation). The tables were a bit skinny near the windows but that's a nit pick. Service and ambiance was enjoyable. The menu is simple in a good way. I really enjoyed the hush puppies. I got the tri tip sandwich which was decent but when I go back I'll order something else.
Jessica B.
We pre-ordered smoked turkey and brisket for our Thanksgiving meal and it was delicious and ready to go at the reserved time. Can't wait to dine in at the actual restaurant and discover the rest of the menu.
Nancy T.
Went to the Producer Dinner Series featuring Raft Wines and Liberty Duck Farms this past weekend and had such a great experience. Chef Drew did not disappoint! 5 course duck meals with wine pairings, all mouth watering. Service was amazing, and setting was intimate. We got to chat with Chef Drew and Jennifer from Liberty Duck Farms and learn about the dishes and wines we were enjoying. Hope to do another experience soon!
Anders Rubini
As a professional chef I often walk away from restaurants thinking that I could have made it better myself.This is NOT the case when eating at papalito!Papalito is probably one of the best spots in San Diego. The food is casual, but created with great attention to detail. Everything is seasoned perfectly and it is clear that all the best possible ingredients are used.Andrew is extremely passionate and I shows in every single bite.The 3 must haves in my opinion are1. Their brocolini2. The Chicken sandwich(probably the best in San Diego)3. The pear and apple crumble.
Sorry , no pics but let me tell you why . When the food looks and smells as good as this place does , i could not wait ???? .Here are reasons to go- supporting your local chef who has a philosophy about his "why" means he will pour his heart n soul into his food .- cause food is good- don't know bout you but never had sonoran style bbqFood i had (went there 2x already)*went with a food group so literally had most of the menu ???? ...let's say textures , flavors that made sense within each sandwich /appetizer, made you think under priced for the quality .I will say his salad is ridiculously good . I'm not a big salad person but will order everytime i go .Also chef is not one to brag but check out the website . Some awesome things he has done . Ok will try totake pics with my vintage phone next time
Andreina J.
Perfection. My husband is a former executive chef and with that I have become quiet the critique (and spoiled). Chef Drew has created a menu in which local ingredients are used with an attention to detail. Every single bite is balanced from the herbs that compliment the dish, down to the perfect amount of salt. I loved every dish. I highly recommend the brocolinni dish. I don't know how to describe it other than delicious. The chicken sandwich was phenomenal. Honestly, the best I have had in San Diego. Again, every bite is balanced. It does not feel heavy and you're left wanting more. His cornbread is to die for. It's made with fresh corn and I wish I could have taken more home with me. Lastly, the pear crumble dessert is a must. It's cobbler style and left me scraping the sides of the dish to enjoy every bite. It was toppled with vegan ice cream. I would have never guessed it was vegan. It was also such a unique flavor. Apart from the food, the atmosphere of Little Thief was really cool. They staff paired wine for what we ordered. Perfect date night spot. The DJ they had was awesome.
Tyler P.
Went there for lunch with no expectations and ordered The Buccaneer, basically a seared tuna sandwich. was truly amazed by just how good the food was. Solid 10/10, I'm going back for takeout for dinner to try more. Definitely a contender for my new favorite restaurant in Northpark.
Emmett T.
Papalito has partnered with a recently opened wine bar, Little Thief, in North Park. A sidewalk sign indicated Papalito's presence, but unless you are following on social media, you may not know that it is operating from the kitchen of Little Thief. Local fruits and vegetables from a farmers market along with smoked meats were the elements of the menu. Brunch is offered from 10:00 am to 3:00 pm on weekends. When I used a QR code at the bar to access the menu, eight different sandwiches showed up as the featured items. Two charcuterie boards, several sides, and a couple of desserts made up the rest of the non-brunch food offerings. The bartender told me that the beef and ribs had sold out for the evening which was unfortunate. That eliminated my top two sandwich choices (The Rustler - brisket, The Ponzi - birria) from consideration. I chose The Bandito for my to-go order. The sandwich consisted of smoked carnitas, melted fontina, apple mostarda, and caramelized onion on buttered sourdough bread. A few stalks of green beans were added as garnishments. The bread was two square slices that didn't resemble traditional sourdough which has a thicker and chewier crust not to mention a more oblong shape when sliced. The smoked meat was okay but could have used additional seasoning. For the price, I thought the product was rather average in size and quality.
Jada B.
Ok first off this place is so cute you can't walk by without stoping. Customer service is top tier we love Sarah and the food... THE FOOD 10/10 do yourself a favor and try them out
Thank you to all the reviews that my Son Chef, Drew gas received! My son has busted his back perfecting,the best possible foods to serve to his customers.He is an amazing Man, I'm very proud to call Chef Drew, my son.
This place has really chill vibes and INCREDIBLE food! The meats were done perfectly and the flavor of everything we ordered from sides to the sauces were mouth watering and savory! Hands down the best barbecue style food I’ve had in any state!
Excellent bbq in North Park by Chef Andrew Bent of Lolita55 fame! The ala carte meat choices are a great way to sample starters and the hush puppies are to die for!! No happy hour unfortunately and drinks are pricey. Ambiance is spot on, a chic space.
Outstanding service and food.Highly recommended for a great time, relaxation.The service is served with a smile.and the prices of the food is well worth your $...Enjoy San Diego
We stumbled into this place on a Monday night when we were in North Park. At first glance at the menu, it's clear that the food is meant to be an elevated barbecue spot. The menu options looked really great and the service was good. The food was interesting and gets an A for effort, but it feels like the chef is throwing the kitchen sink at every dish in an effort to create something interesting. In doing so, each dish seems to fail to get the fundamentals right and is really out of balance. We had the smoked cauliflower as an app. Had great flavors and very smoky, but the cauliflower was undercooked. My wife had a pork shoulder sandwich. There was so much pear, cheese, and other ingredients that it would have been easy to forget there was pork in the sandwich in the first place. The bread didn't hold up well at all to all the messiness, and the pork itself was maybe 10% of each bite. Felt to me that all the complexity was meant to hide the fact that the pork may not have been smoked but rather cooked in the oven. Similar experience with my fried chicken sandwich the Klepto - flavors were great, but there was just way too much of them. There was so much fresh dill on the sandwich that I had the taste of dill in my mouth the rest of the night. Again the bread didn't hold up well to the heft of the sandwich and all the ingredients. All in all it's a nice new spot and I'm sure the chef will figure it out as he gets more experience with this cuisine concept. Now it just seems like they are trying too hard with their menu and don't have the skill yet to create dishes with the level of complexity that they are going for. Great spot for a date, nice wine bar to accompany the food, and service is good. Worth a try.
This place is easy to accidentally walk by, look for Little Thief which this is a part of, there was only a small sign for Papalito on the side. Also as of December 10th they were no longer serving weekend brunch and will open at noon every day now instead of 10 on weekends. As our large party had made reservations a week before the change though, they honored the reservation and opened early for us, very much appreciated! Food was delicious! They only have a small selection, but its very tasty and creative. We got to try a lot of the options because of our party size. For appetizers, probably the best hush puppies I've had, usually you'd expect hush puppies to be boring but these had a great flavor, cooked perfectly crispy outside and moist inside, and tasty dipping sauce! Chicken Liver Pate was also done very well, I just wish there was more but thats sort of how pate is and its definitely worth it. The entree I got was the Rustler, the tri-tip was tender and cooked perfectly, the bread toasted just right, all the flavors blended together beautifully! Staff was awesome! Besides opening early for us, were super friendly, attentive, and helpful with food/drink choices. You should give this place a try, then another, keep coming back to taste all the options!
Overall solid dining experience. I did not have a reservation but was still able to get a seat at the tables near the windows without having to wait (only section they were seating without a reservation). The tables were a bit skinny near the windows but that's a nit pick. Service and ambiance was enjoyable. The menu is simple in a good way. I really enjoyed the hush puppies. I got the tri tip sandwich which was decent but when I go back I'll order something else.
We pre-ordered smoked turkey and brisket for our Thanksgiving meal and it was delicious and ready to go at the reserved time. Can't wait to dine in at the actual restaurant and discover the rest of the menu.
Went to the Producer Dinner Series featuring Raft Wines and Liberty Duck Farms this past weekend and had such a great experience. Chef Drew did not disappoint! 5 course duck meals with wine pairings, all mouth watering. Service was amazing, and setting was intimate. We got to chat with Chef Drew and Jennifer from Liberty Duck Farms and learn about the dishes and wines we were enjoying. Hope to do another experience soon!
As a professional chef I often walk away from restaurants thinking that I could have made it better myself.This is NOT the case when eating at papalito!Papalito is probably one of the best spots in San Diego. The food is casual, but created with great attention to detail. Everything is seasoned perfectly and it is clear that all the best possible ingredients are used.Andrew is extremely passionate and I shows in every single bite.The 3 must haves in my opinion are1. Their brocolini2. The Chicken sandwich(probably the best in San Diego)3. The pear and apple crumble.
Restaurantji Recommends
Sorry , no pics but let me tell you why . When the food looks and smells as good as this place does , i could not wait ???? .Here are reasons to go- supporting your local chef who has a philosophy about his "why" means he will pour his heart n soul into his food .- cause food is good- don't know bout you but never had sonoran style bbqFood i had (went there 2x already)*went with a food group so literally had most of the menu ???? ...let's say textures , flavors that made sense within each sandwich /appetizer, made you think under priced for the quality .I will say his salad is ridiculously good . I'm not a big salad person but will order everytime i go .Also chef is not one to brag but check out the website . Some awesome things he has done . Ok will try totake pics with my vintage phone next time
Perfection. My husband is a former executive chef and with that I have become quiet the critique (and spoiled). Chef Drew has created a menu in which local ingredients are used with an attention to detail. Every single bite is balanced from the herbs that compliment the dish, down to the perfect amount of salt. I loved every dish. I highly recommend the brocolinni dish. I don't know how to describe it other than delicious. The chicken sandwich was phenomenal. Honestly, the best I have had in San Diego. Again, every bite is balanced. It does not feel heavy and you're left wanting more. His cornbread is to die for. It's made with fresh corn and I wish I could have taken more home with me. Lastly, the pear crumble dessert is a must. It's cobbler style and left me scraping the sides of the dish to enjoy every bite. It was toppled with vegan ice cream. I would have never guessed it was vegan. It was also such a unique flavor. Apart from the food, the atmosphere of Little Thief was really cool. They staff paired wine for what we ordered. Perfect date night spot. The DJ they had was awesome.
Went there for lunch with no expectations and ordered The Buccaneer, basically a seared tuna sandwich. was truly amazed by just how good the food was. Solid 10/10, I'm going back for takeout for dinner to try more. Definitely a contender for my new favorite restaurant in Northpark.
Papalito has partnered with a recently opened wine bar, Little Thief, in North Park. A sidewalk sign indicated Papalito's presence, but unless you are following on social media, you may not know that it is operating from the kitchen of Little Thief. Local fruits and vegetables from a farmers market along with smoked meats were the elements of the menu. Brunch is offered from 10:00 am to 3:00 pm on weekends. When I used a QR code at the bar to access the menu, eight different sandwiches showed up as the featured items. Two charcuterie boards, several sides, and a couple of desserts made up the rest of the non-brunch food offerings. The bartender told me that the beef and ribs had sold out for the evening which was unfortunate. That eliminated my top two sandwich choices (The Rustler - brisket, The Ponzi - birria) from consideration. I chose The Bandito for my to-go order. The sandwich consisted of smoked carnitas, melted fontina, apple mostarda, and caramelized onion on buttered sourdough bread. A few stalks of green beans were added as garnishments. The bread was two square slices that didn't resemble traditional sourdough which has a thicker and chewier crust not to mention a more oblong shape when sliced. The smoked meat was okay but could have used additional seasoning. For the price, I thought the product was rather average in size and quality.
Ok first off this place is so cute you can't walk by without stoping. Customer service is top tier we love Sarah and the food... THE FOOD 10/10 do yourself a favor and try them out