“Great spot to come with your furry friends on the back patio. Very nice service and friendly staff. The chips and Guac with Queso is great. The salmon salad is amazing. And it's got the best layout in San Elijo, large inside restaurant and large back patio.“
“First time here after I kept seeing it on FB as a must go to. I’d probably go back. The flan was 5/5 alone! I really liked that. The chicken was fresh, moist and good. 4/5. Price is reasonable. 5/5. Beans were good. Salsa idk wasn’t a big fan. The rice was the disappointment from the entire purchase. 2/5 based on the amount you get and the visual but no flavor. Tortillas were good too not sure if handmade but 3 per pack is a good amount and size.The service 10/5, the girl at the register is bilingual and very nice. She’s also patient while I was trying to figure out what I was going to order.“
“Can't go wrong with this place! And when the staff makes an effort to remember your name, greet you as you walk through the door, and all the way down to remembering your order...that speaks volumes! Been here once a week for the past 2 years and I have nothing but good things to say about the restaurant, it's food, the environment and it's staff.“
“Had the pleasure of dining here with my family on March 3. Wonderful experience. Met chef Aidan at our table and what followed was a family taste sharing experience of many courses which were ordered with the help of our great server Tosh. Can't wait to come again. Great job Aidan!“
“This is a long overdue review for Urban Plates. I do not usually post reviews, however, I have to reward the consistency of outstanding customer service and consistently good food with my feedback. Manager Manny Mejia is always on site greeting guests and making sure all customers have an exemplary experience. I have been coming to Urban Plates for years with my family and friends. I love the Plate Pass program that gives me 20% off of my entire bill including wine/beer. The restaurant is always clean even during their busiest times. When it is peak eating times, you may have to wait for a table but, Manny and his staff will try to make your wait as quick as possible. Finally, let's talk about the food. The beet salad is one of my all-time favorite salads. I also love the chciken tenders which are addictive as are the fries. The steak with chimichurri sauce is delicious. I always leave Urban Plates feeling satisfied and happy that I am able to enjoy tasty food prepared in a healthful way. You owe it to yourself to eat at Urban Plates.“
“Great DJ on the weekends; nice interior space and bar. Enjoyed the food and drinks that I ordered. The only downside is the strict 1 hr limit on parking and no leave property rule or they’ll tow. Don’t plan to come back because of that.“
“I honestly cannot say enough good things about my experience dining at Ponto Lago last week. From our arrival at the valet with Tom who went above and beyond to walk us to the restaurant and give us recommendations at Park Hyatt, to our greeting from the hostess to our service from Saeid and Norma- everything was incredible. We ordered the- Guavarita which was a Tequila Cocktail with Guava Foam (the guava foam was SO good): $20- Seasonal Fruit Smash which was a Berry Mocktail: $14- Burrata Salad: I don’t remember the price but it was delicious- Local Blue Fin Crudo: I’m pregnant so I couldn’t taste this but my husband loved it- Tenderloin Steak with Chimichurri, Sweet Potatoes Side & Churros for DessertThe entire meal was absolutely delicious. The portions appeared small at first but they were so flavorful and with the various courses, it was actually the perfect amount. Each dish had a phenomenal presentation and we talked about the sweet potatoes and churros for days after- they were THAT good!We’re already looking forward to our next visit to the Park Hyatt Aviara and Ponto Lago. Hoping we get the same staff as they really enhanced our experience!Parking: Valet parking only in front of Park Hyatt Resort“
“Great local spot and my go to dive bar to watch sports and enjoy bar food. They have wing wednesday and my top picks are there philly cheesesteak with fried green beans, lemon pepper dry rub wings, and the bratwurst. Service is unique and puts a fun twist on letting you know your order is ready with funny names. Cant go wrong with any if their beers on the wall, i typically go with the #15 or #22 hazy beer“
“Really great food and excellent service! I wish we had a restaurant like this on the peninsula up in the Bay area. The reuben, prime rib sandwich, the double double and gnocchi were all excellent. Our waitress and the service in general was excellent.“
“Best deep dish pizza we've ever had in the west coast. It was so delicious my partner got up to virally thank the chef and staff. The drinks were silicosis and strong. Seating was comfortable, clean, and the place is beautiful. I'm so glad we came in and truly cannot wait to return.“
“food was very good only downside is that there is no type of seating terrible terrible seating and no type of busser i don't know if it's like a hospitality thing where you clean your own table but it was very weird ..... but the food was so good .“
“The food is great, ambiance is nice and service is excellent. It is very consistent. It's perfect for date night or family time on the patio. My husband and I really enjoy coming here and are never disappointed. We look forward to returning.“
“Our waitress Diana was exceptionally helpful and professional and listened to our orders specifically to my allergies food issues!!! Food was great ! She was excellent!! All in all my husband and I had a great lunch and service!!! And the hostess Saniah was so awesome when we came in she greeted us with a smile and was so friendly andkind !!! To top it off the manager Andi came to our table and listened to our feedback and was so pleased with her employees and she we were happy with her as well… all in all !!! Fantastic job everyone!!!“
“Great late lunch/happy hour with wife and friend - service was exceptional (Louie). We sat outside and had a lovely time - started with the Truffle Popcorn and Deviled Eggs. As for our "mains", we enjoyed the Caesar Salad, Cheeseburger (Truffle Fries), and Fish Tacos. The Fish Tacos were the winner. I ranked our experience as "Good Value" but realize that the CoGs and Labor costs are way up so I understand the FS menu pricing requirements. Will certainly return again next week!“
Wineries • $$
“Food was fantastic!!!!Service not so much. Difficult to get anyone willing to clean off a table for us to sit even though my husband was holding our salad sitting next to an empty table. After asking 3 people found someone willing to take the dirty dishes away but not willing to wipe the table off. Food was delicious and delivered in a timely basis.“
“My family and I went to Vintana for a birthday dinner. The food and service were wonderful! I ordered the Seaside, my husband ordered the ahi tuna and my kids ordered from the kids menu, all of which were delicious. There was a good amount of seafood in the Seaside and definitely enough for left overs. Our original reservations were for outside, but due to the rain the server called and said they’re moving our reservations inside which was perfect.The servers were so attentive and friendly. The servers even sign a birthday card which is very thoughtful. Vintana never disappoints which is why we will dine again there soon.“
“Bestawan is a super casual, super chill place where you get to spend time interacting with the surrounding community. Locals, would be locals and visitors have always come to Besta because it's a cool place to hang out and enjoy the beach community. Even better is, with the new owners, the food has become off the charts good. The Italian Beef is becoming the signature dish and the burger is one of the best in town but my personal favorites, at the moment, are the Detroit style pizza (the layer of baked parmesan around the crust is simply genius) and the shrimp scampi with Calabrian chili butter is just redonkulous. Seriously, I could/would do shots of that butter. There is now a rotating weekly specials menu that has been creative, delicious, and keeps me coming back just to see what's new (some recent examples from the specials menu: curried carrot & coconut soup, truck stop beef chili, steak frites, moules frites, house made cannoli's etc. etc.). They also now have an excellent wine selection on top of their traditionally excellent beer selection. I have always loved to hang out at Besta but with the new ownership it is easily my favorite restaurant in the Del Mar, Solana, Cardiff, Encinitas, Leucadia corridor.“
“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.“
“Hidden gem for sure. I can't say who the secret chef is (because we recognize the flavors and near-identical tastes), but the menu is split with another local favorite - fusion... so the mix of items is vast. Generally something for everyone, so no one will be left undecided. It was quiet and empty when we dined, but definitely a worthwhile stop.“
“Great breakfast at this slightly hidden diner! They really know how to cook eggs exactly how each person orders them. Really clean, and not too busy or crammed. My only complaint was that my home fries could have been cooked crisper, but the toast and pancake options were delicious. House fresh salsa is awesome.“
“Came here for lunch on one of the weekdays. The weather was nice so we sat outside. We ordered a Turkey Melt (sliced tomatoes, horseradish cheddar cheese, wild argula, basil mayo on a Saide Rose ciabatta roll) and a Sante Fe Chicken Salad (romaine, super greens, grape tomatoes, roasted corn, natural cheddar, red bell peppers, tortilla strips, chipotle-agave vinagrette). Everything was extremely refreshing and was a nice pick up for lunch to bring the energy back.“
Brewery • $$
“Shoutout to Shylo for Making Our Night!Had an awesome time at Stone Brewery in Escondido and a lot of that was thanks to our waitress, Shylo. She was all about making sure we were having a great time – attentive, super funny, and really knew her stuff when it came to the menu and beers.Shylo had some spot-on recommendations for both food and drinks. Whether you’re a beer aficionado or just there to enjoy some good pub grub, she had the insight to make our picks perfect. She even went out of her way to ensure everything was just right for us, which honestly made our night.It’s not just about the food and drinks at Stone Brewery (though both are fantastic), it’s also about the vibes and the people. Shylo definitely made our experience better with her upbeat personality and dedication. Hope the management takes notice because it’s servers like her that keep us coming back.Can’t wait to drop by again. Hopefully, we’ll get lucky and have Shylo as our server!“
Gastropubs • $$
“Very small menu. No one in our party ordered a hamburger, but that most likely would've been best. We had wings, salads, pretzel & fish & chips. I wish the waitress would've told us about the specials. We didn't notice the chalk board out front with the specials on it until we walked out.“
“Stopped by tower last Wednesday for lunch and was greeted by julia the nicest bartender ever. She let me sample a couple of the house beers before I decided on the tower ipa which for a house beer was very impressive. The place has a ton of tvs as well as a lot of indoor and outdoor seating. Food was enjoyable and I definitely will return. Hope julia is working next time I pop in!“
“Great people working here!! Very friendly and attentive. Its to me very upperscale as I am used to IHOP. Chairs are comfortable couches I can almost fall asleep. Well what got mewas the prices. Food is moderate in size. Over all I had a great experience.“
“We had a great time overall and do plan to come back during the day to experience the view in a daylight. The food was great - we ordered Calamari, Salmon and Chicken curry. The place was busy and our order was mixed up which is understandable. This was not a big deal given the overall great experience we had. Our waiter made up for the small glitches and we appreciate him.“
“Ahi poke nachos, chili lime sweet potato fries…great appetizers i always just get them as meals. The wings are wack so is the pub burger. Not great. Beer sausages r great. The food overall is a hit for me. So is the ambiance esp outside sitting by the fire, underneath heaters.“
“Got the old town hot dog and it was by far one of the best hot dogs I've ever had. Super tasty with the right amount of spice. The beer was good. Great atmosphere. Service was okay. We had to go inside to grab utensils and napkins after our food was taken out. Overall tho, the food was worth it and we will definitely be coming again.“
“I recently had the pleasure of celebrating my best friend David's birthday at The Craftsman Tavern, and I must say it was an exceptional experience from start to finish.The Craftsman Tavern exudes warmth and charm from the moment you walk in. The ambiance is cozy and inviting, making it the perfect place for a celebration. The staff greeted us with smiles and made us feel like part of their extended family.Now, let's talk about the food and drinks. The menu at The Craftsman Tavern is a culinary delight. We ordered a variety of dishes, and every single one of them was a gastronomic masterpiece. The flavors were exquisite, and the presentation was top-notch. David, the birthday boy, couldn't have been happier with his choice of venue.The drink selection is equally impressive. The cocktails were expertly crafted, and the beer and wine choices were excellent. It's evident that The Craftsman Tavern takes pride in its beverage offerings.But what truly stood out was the impeccable service. Our server was attentive, knowledgeable, and made sure that we had everything we needed to make David's birthday celebration unforgettable.The Craftsman Tavern has certainly become a favorite spot for me and my friends. It's a place where you can enjoy fantastic food and drinks in a welcoming atmosphere. Whether you're celebrating a special occasion or just looking for a great meal, I highly recommend The Craftsman Tavern. David's birthday was a memorable one, thanks to this wonderful establishment!“
“We like this place and the food is good but kinda pricey but everywhere it seems that way. A fair warning... we went for Thursday Karaoke night and reserved a table an hour before it started and planned on eating dinner and having drinks. Upon being seated, we were told we needed to order using our phones. We're seniors, so it's not easy for us, but we managed. We were also told that if all tables fill up, if we've been there longer than others, we would need to give up our table to others on the wait list. This meant standing which, with my mobility issues, is a problem. We mentioned this and the host said they would try to accommodate. As it turned out, we didn't end up needing to move but worried about this the entire evening. She said it's rare that they have to have you give up your table but still is crazy to do that to a group that is eating and drinking. We finished our food but we still ordered beer. The place never got busy enough for overflow and the weather probably helped that. The table behind us got seated are us and was not told about the table seating situation. So be warned if you go on a busy night, this could happen. Overall the place is cool, with arcade games for adults and kids and outdoor area is nice. Staff is very nice. Food and drink comes out fast which is good.“