Located inside of the museum which makes it for an interesting ambiance. Offers an eclectic menu - a little too savory for my liking, but still good. The desserts did not disappoint. Pleasant experience overall, would come back and try out other items on the menu. read more

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This museum cafe is much better than on any on gas lamp. Loved the open space with unique furniture. The service is pretty quick. I truly enjoyed food, avocado bowl was my favorite read more

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Hands down the BEST dining experience we've had in San Diego! From the moment we walked in, the customer service was incredible--warm, welcoming, and attentive in every way. The food was absolutely out of this world--every dish was flavorful, fresh, and beautifully made. A special shoutout to Kelly, the bartender, who completely elevated our night. Not only were the drinks perfection, but her energy, personality, and genuine care made us feel like VIPs. Kelly is truly a gem and such a huge part of why our experience was unforgettable. If you're in San Diego and want amazing food, outstanding service, and a great vibe, this is THE place to go. Can't wait to come back! read more

Artifact At Mingei - New American Near Me - San Diego, California

Stumbled upon this jewel while sight seeing at Balboa Park. Food was spectacular! Avocado bowl and the rye pierogi is an absolute food experience. Must try. read more

Amazing flavors!! We had trouble deciding, so picked the snack tray- a perfect sample of each appetizer. Great for a lunch! Can't wait to come back and try all the other dishes!! read more

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The food is very yummy. The staff is very good. The reason I give it four stars is because of the service charge. That is a Covid thing of the past. It should be removed. Build that fee into the cost of the food so there are no surprises at the end. read more

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Nice restaurant inside the Mingei museum at Balboa Park. We made reservations but there was a lot of seating inside and they had an outdoor patio too. The restaurant is right by the main entrance to the museum. Food was delicious though a little on the pricey side. But expected since it's inside a museum. The Cuban ham sandwich was ok but the crispy tofu dish and the barramundi dish were winners. read more

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Food and service were terrible. The piri piri chicken was like rubber. Overuse of spice to hide the lack of proper flavor. The gyzo was so tough like it had been sitting under a heater since yesterday. I would not recommend especially on the Michelin guide. read more

Artifact At Mingei - Piri piri chicken is as terrible as it looks. All spice with no flavor. Obviously lacks presentation. The gyzo taste reheated and tough. - New American Near Me - San Diego, California

A hidden gem on the Balboa Park grounds, not to be missed. Don't let the somewhat open and sterile interior be a turn off. Ask to sit on the quaint patio and indulge in their creative menu that has a unique Asian flair. Vegan, vegetarian and gluten free options abound. We had a wonderful lunch experience with great service. The roasted beet salad is not to be missed. Beautiful presentation of pink beets between slices of crisp Asian pears, with whipped feta and pistachio. A tiny bit of watercress rests atop the dish. $18. It's both Vegan and gluten free! Raving about the avocado bowl that includes pistachios, barley, sweet potato, carrots, cucumber and more, with a mild garlic crème fraiche and carrot molasses. It's Vegan but even us carnivores will enjoy it! $23. The menu also includes small plates like pork meatballs, as well as shrimp dumplings and large plates of short ribs, chicken and many other options. Enjoy a glass of wine too! You won't be disappointed...except for maybe the 4% surcharge they say is to support increased wages and benefits. Sure hope 100% of the surcharge truly goes to the hard working crew! read more

Artifact is a modern upscale restaurant located inside the Mingei International Museum. The decor is simple; there was a DJ playing artsy music for a few hours. It's a fusion restaurant and provides slot of options from around the world. Individuals were dress in a mix of date night attire to casual jeans and a shirt. Restaurant does have a patio which is nice especially during the summer nights. Service was good, server was attentive. Personally I cared far more for the small plates on the menu. We chose Vietnamese pork ball, shrimp gyoza, rye pierogi and the roasted beet/ pear salad. All the dishes were wonderful. For our mains we chose west African half chicken, short rib egg noodle and the swordfish. Everything came out a tad bit saltier than anticipated that could just be all the seasonings from the different styles of food that we are not used to. I'd come back for drinks and appetizers. read more

Artifact At Mingei - Bourbon drink - New American Near Me - San Diego, California

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We loved the food and ambiance! Girls trip ended with lunch here and everyone enjoyed the food tremendously. Friends told me and I will tell friends too. Can't be missed. read more

New on the Michelin Guide to California restaurants is Artifact, and I must say- I was impressed but not blown away. Historically speaking, I have found the food options in Balboa Park to be lackluster and Artifact definitely brings some solidly good cuisine. They just rolled out their summer menu when we were there, we went for the Summer Mellon Salad, the Lamb Meatballs and the Red Snapper. Each of the dishes had a lovely balance. I thought that their gremolata with pistachios and farmers cheese was a great combination of flavors and textures but it was incredibly small. Like seriously only big enough for us to each have two bites. I guess that's the definition of an appetizer, though, because it definitely left me wanting more! The lamb, meatball dish was very tasty, but the presentation of the meatball was super strange. It was cooked and served inside of a thin bread and then grilled, which did make it easy to eat and scoop up some of the super yummy Mediterranean Quinoa Salad. It really did not look particularly appealing but was enjoyable. I thought the best thing we got that day was the Red Snapper. What a beautiful combination of sweet and sour, with perfectly sautéed skin that was slightly salty and quite crispy. It came out looking like a piece of art and tasting like a million bucks. The server I was very knowledgeable of the menu and did a good job pointing out his favorite of the dishes. I also thought that the wine list was really well rounded with interesting varietals that you don't see on every list, although to enjoy any of those rarely seen grapes you'd have to spring for a whole bottle, which I am not up for at lunchtime. The by the glass list was standard, nothing to get excited about. We had our reservations for outside. It was a beautiful sunny day and I thought the patio it was very nice. I'm glad we did not make reservations for inside. It was very loud with all of the people at the museum and to be honest the atmosphere seems cold and sterile. I would for sure go back and check out their seasonal menus and am interested in one of their monthly international cuisine tasting dinners. read more

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We came here on a recommendation and it was definitely interesting, the dishes are all unique and tasty too! The cafe is located inside the museum which was interesting but just slightly.. cold somehow in terms of ambiance? But our waitress was so nice and friendly and really made the experience. We just got 3 appetizers to share and a drink, but it was all pretty good! read more

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Was in town for vacation with my Fiance. Stumbled across this spot and was not disappointed. Good atmosphere, the food was great, and service was even better. S/O Emil for the wonderful service, he really made it a 5 star experience. We will be back if we find ourselves in town again. Go try it out!! read more

I was so excited to learn that there is another restaurant at Balboa Park and was looking forward to trying Artifact at Mingei Museum. We found the 3-course Prix Fixe dinner menu intriguing so we opted for that (at $55 per person). We decided to go to Artifact to celebrate 2 birthdays. Our reservation was at 7pm but after getting our drinks, we didn't get any food until 1 hour and 45 mins later (around 8:45pm). They were so understaffed! When we finally received our first course, we all ate in a hurry and without word because we were famished. I had the pea and potato samosa. My friends had the Beet salad and Pierogi for their first course. It tasted good because we were so hungry. For entrees, we ordered the Piri Piri Chicken and Crispy Tofu. It was so late that we just ordered the our third course to go (we ordered the cheesecake and chocolate mousse). Since we were celebrating birthdays, we got 2 complimentary tapioca puddings (so small that they can't really share with the table). We were literally the last ones to leave the restaurant as they were cleaning up so the dinner felt rushed in the end after almost 2 hour wait for food to arrive. Needless to say, we will not be returning. read more

Artifact has been on my list to try for a while now. Can't believe we finally visit it. This is a super modern restaurant inside the museum! Their food menu has a good selection of appetizers, salad, and main dishes. We order the highly popular potstickers and it's absolutely amazing!! The sauce is slightly spicy with chili oil and layers of flavor with ginger and green onion. Potstickers were nicely cooked. Crispy on one side and soft on other sides. I ordered The salad was super refreshing. The fresh plums were so good! Love the dressing and Thai Basil elevating the flavor profile. Service was great. Full service at the tables like the restaurant. Overall, we love what we had here and really enjoyed the vibe here. I would love to come back again and try other items on the menu. read more

Artifact At Mingei - New American Near Me - San Diego, California

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Great service, and artistic atmosphere. I will say, expect to pay a little more given the location in Balboa Park. The drinks are fun and the food offerings are modern fusions of different cultures. Considering the museum the style makes sense for the Mingei. This works for a cute dinner spot before going to a show at the old globe. read more

Artifact At Mingei - Vietnamese style pork meatball - New American Near Me - San Diego, California

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Artifact provides a unique dining experience highlighting global flavors. I went with a group of 8 and everyone found menu options that appealed to them, and when the food was brought out, everything was presented beautifully. I subtracted a star from my review as not all the dishes tasted as good as they looked. For example, the curry sauce on my samosa had a powdery texture and overpowered the dish. I would return to Artifact, but would probably go for lunch instead of dinner. read more

We wanted to go see the park and rebuilt arbor before they start charging for parking. My friend suggested Artifact and it was a delightful experience. We were seated on the patio with picture perfect weather! Our waiter Tim was wonderdul and we shared sea bass and avocado bowl. Both quite tasty. Highly recommend and we'll be back! read more

This is our favorite spot to get food during a day at the park! It's kid and family friendly especially during the day or for an afternoon lunch. We like that they have a kids menu and healthy, balanced and vegetarian options on their regular menu read more

I'm torn between 4 and 5 stars for this lovely Balboa park restaurant. The ambiance is lovely and the service is excellent. The food is pricey but quite tasty. The reason I'm giving 4 and not five stars is because this is just not a restaurant I see myself wanting to go to often. We were seated by a lovely host but our waiter, though professional, was rather unfriendly. They do share service across the wait stuff so we had four different people taking care of us. Three of the four were very friendly. We ordered the pork tacos with salad instead of rice and beans, the albacore appetizer and the little gem salad. Everything was tasty but just not amazing enough to want to return. We were seated at an outside table on a beautiful day. There were lots of umbrellas and the tables were well spaced. Again nothing negative here, really just not great enough to return given the prices. read more

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Stopped by on a busy Saturday with a friend and we were lucky enough to be seated right away without a reservation. The food was very good, especially the dips that came with the appetizer or "snack" as it is referred to by the restaurant. The Pork Carnitas tacos were DRY and needed every last bit of the sauce and lime. The green curry was delicious, perfect amount of spice. The menu prices felt "reasonable" and I didn't mind paying the prices for fresh and quality food. Also, the variety is amazing and the menu most likely has something for everyone, which is a huge plus. -1 star for service (I would take away 2 for how slow it was, but I don't want to discredit the restaurants food and all of the staff was friendly). It seems the slow service was due to the waitress having too many tables at once. There were two waitresses total who also seemed to be the hosts/bussers. Nothing wrong with that, but it is definitely something that could be improved in the future. (Who knows, maybe some staff called out last minute? You never know) Overall, I would visit this restaurant again. I love the exciting and diverse menu! read more

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It's eclectic with a creative international menu. We started off by sharing the snack tray which had four different items. Overall, this was well presented and delicious. For my entree, I had the duck mole which came with a side salad. The mole needed more flavor and lacked richness. The salad was fresh and could have benefited from a bit more dressing. For dessert, the chai chocolate mousse was unique, creamy and tasty. Service was excellent and prompt. The ambiance was lively and there was a DJ spinning music. It would have been great if he played some international beats to be consistent with the theme of the restaurant. It was a little chilly and the air conditioning was a bit uncomfortable for me. read more

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I had a lovely lunch here with girlfriends. The service was prompt and extremely friendly. Love the ambiance of the restaurant. We came during a week day and also later it wasn't too busy. We shared the duck taco, crispy tofu and braised beef with noodles. Everything was so good. The mole on the taco was just right, the short rib beef was moist and soft, and the crispy tofu was cooked to perfection especially with chili crisp at the bottom. We wished there were more noodles though. Highly recommend! read more

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Artifact Restaurant is located in the Mingei Museum in Balboa Park. It is accessed by a big glass door under the arches of the building on the Prado. The best parking is the "secret lot" off of nearby Space Theater Drive. As I arrived for lunch, two women were waiting to be seated, as no host was present. The host finally arrived and seated the two women. Just as he returned and was taking my information to seat me, the telephone rang. He picked it up and engaged in a ten minute call about scheduling a Christmas party at the restaurant. It would have been more efficient to place the caller on a brief hold and seat patrons in the restaurant. Or better yet, have the call be routed to an office assistant. The dining experience at Artifact is pleasant and relaxed. There are some interesting specials of the day, that may be leftovers from the prix-fixe dinners available from time to time. You may need to pry the list of specials out of your servers. There is a small and interesting wine list. However, as some of the wines are in the $150.00 range, be prepared for your bill to increase exponentially. read more

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This place has been on my radar for a suuper long time and it did not disappoint!!! For starters, GORGEOUS ambiance! Who doesn't love Balboa Park? With so many different spots to stop in - Artifact will now be my go to place to take visitors after a long day of walking. There's a cool indoor space as well as an outdoor patio. Cocktail menu - a fun list of ingredients with something from everyone. Food - also something for everyone! I love the diversity in flavors (inspiration drawn from all different parts of the world). With a party of 7, I was so glad I got to sample a bit of everything. My top picks were the Thai curry (loooove the crunchy bits), soba noodles, paired with the ceviche. Not a single one of us was disappointed! They also have a monthly culinary journey dinner which I 100% plan to attend some point. Truly love this spot. read more

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Finally got to try this place and we really enjoyed our meal. The location and ambiance is fun. Service was very friendly... from the hostess to our server (who was also the bartender). We ordered the Vietnamese pork meatballs, rock shrimp gyoza and choripan burger, plus a couple of cocktails. Everything was delicious. We will definitely be back. read more

Fabulous food and drinks, a really good culinary experience inside the Mingei museum, surrounded by art. It is worth a try. Our waiter was friendly and an addition to the experience. read more

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We came for the Artifact at Night - Germany menu. It was good, but maybe I don't eat enough German food to appreciate it. When we came for lunch, I was blown away by how good everything was; I guess I had higher expectations for dinner. As for lunch, my favorite by far was the buckwheat noodle salad. I never would have ordered it, because it didn't appeal to me at all, but my friend did and I am SO glad. My only regret is that we didn't get two of them. Service is always good, ambiance indoors is elegant. Outside, service is also good, but the ambiance is ho-hum. I was disappointed with the flower lemonade, because it was more like flavored water. Usually it's the alcoholic drinks that are watered down, not the lemonade. read more

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A hidden gem inside the Mingei International Museum at the Balbo Park. We stopped by for lunch a few times and they have an international menu with quite a few options to choose from. We really like the Chicken Sausage Satay and the Beef Noodle Soup. The Basque Cheesecake is also my favorite. They have a great wine list and it is always a pleasure to have a glass of wine over lunch. read more

Artifact At Mingei - New American Near Me - San Diego, California

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We finally tried this delightful spot after hearing it was Restaurant Week and before a show at the Old Globe. The three of us decided to try the Restaurant Week menu which was two dishes a person for $30. I got the beets with whipped feta with Asian pears to start. Outstanding. Perfect combo of food. For my main I got the Thai green curry with chicken. The curry was a little bitter but it was loaded with chicken, carrots, sprouts and purple sweet potatoes. Interesting to not have rice. Mom got the tofu and the cheesecake. Tofu was excellent but the cheesecake was ordinary. Husband got the delicious gem salad. And for he main, the tacos. The rice had an amazing taste. The pork was delicious. The portions here are huge. But everything we tried was tasty! The service was great too. We will be back! read more

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Amazing menu. Amazing space. Amazing staff. Amazing commissioned works throughout. Amazing exhibits. Amazing location. Amazing and soothing music. Lucky us. read more

Very delicious food with an equally interesting setup. Service was fast and the server was courteous. It is very well located in Balboa park. 5-7 minutes of walk from the parking lot. Definitely recommended. read more

Came in for SDRW and so glad we found this wonderful hidden gem at Balboa Park. We parked in the lot near the Spreckels Organ, although there is a closer lot right behind the Mingei Museum, near the Japanese Friendship Garden. The SDRW deal featured lunch priced at $30 per person, which includes either an app and entree, or an entree and dessert. Perfect for a little lunch date with a friend or S.O. We were seated outside, under umbrellas, while we listened to the organ and watched the planes fly into SAN. Now onto the food: Cocktails: -Artifact House Tonic: Their take on G&T, with fig and cardamom. Probably my favorite to sip on -Flower in Water: Vodka, coconut agave, hibiscus and that bird's eye chili; perfect for those who like a spicy kick -Bramble: Gin, Blackberry, Lemon -Diablo Mask: Tequila and Mezcal and citrus in a collins glass Entrees: -Achiote Berkshire Pork: 3 tacos accompanied by rice and beans. A nice spice to these guys! Complete with a crema, cilantro, and pickled onions. Delicious. -Thai Green Curry: Chicken, crispy noodles, sweet potatoes and carrots, a delicious coconut-ty curry. Would def order these entrees again. Dessert: -Burnt Basque Cheesecake: dense, creamy, burnt. Served with figs and a great way to end lunch. Everyone at Artifact was really polite and would engage us in conversation. The service was also timed well, and our server gave us great recommendations. Can't wait to stop in for one of their Artifact At Night multi-course dinners. read more

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I love the museum ambiance, this place has been open for two years as stated by the bartender, they did a renovation. You're seated inside the museum with the view of artifacts and the gift shop. The service is amazing! Attention to detail and every staff member that I came into contact with was very friendly and made my experience great. The food was great, you can definitely taste the ingredients used and the desert was great as well. The drinks were nice and refreshing, overall I enjoyed my time here with a full wonderful experience. read more

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I can't believe that I didn't know this restaurant was at Balboa Park as it's been there for several years. Another great menu by the Urban Kitchen Group. It's a great place for a light meal before a Old Globe matinee. My friend and I shared the short rib with fresh egg noodles (sooo good...they said they cooked the short rib for 12+ hours), and the rock shrimp dumplings (tasty). The had dessert but we wanted to check out their cafe/bakery next door (separate review of Craft Cafe). read more

Artifact At Mingei - Short rib, egg noodle & shrimp gyoza + charred shishito + yuzu dashi + bonito flake - New American Near Me - San Diego, California

If you are looking for Flavorful and Culturally inspired dishes, Artifact is the place to go for great food!!! I can see why Michelin recommended this restaurant. Service at this place is impeccable and well-coordinated. Staff seems to enjoy working here and enjoy the food as they have great things to say about their favorites. They know their menu and what to recommend to suit their diner's palate. Thoughtful for asking any dietary restrictions. Antifact is at Mengie Museum Balboa Park and follows the museum's minimalist aesthetic, and is well suited for casual dining or celebrations. read more

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My friend had been wanting to try Artifact for some time, so we took her there Friday evening to celebrate her birthday. It is only open a few days per week and does not stay open late, so be careful to look at the website before you go. When we arrived, I had mixed feelings about the aesthetic. I liked how it is mixed into the museum, and you can see art pieces while you eat, but it also looks a bit like a museum cafeteria. For a moment, I wondered if it was a nice enough place to take a friend for her birthday. We were led to the patio, where it was also very simple, but cute. When I saw the menu, I did feel that everything sounded delicious, and felt better about our decision to celebrate there. The server was very kind and took time to explain the menu. I felt that he was knowledgeable and helpful. We were given tastes of a wine we were interested in, and ended up choosing a bottle from Morocco, which I never have had before. Staff was very nice, and gave us heaters to keep us comfortable on the patio. We started with the Berbere spiced crispy potatoes and cauliflower which was a large dish with a great flavor. Then we had the shrimp gyoza. I thought is was good, but definitely the least interesting dish of the evening. We then had the beet salad which had an interesting flavor with the orange blossom vinaigrette. Then we shared the peri peri chicken, which was very good. Because it was my friend's birthday, we were given a dessert of coconut gelato which was also delicious. Finally, we all ended the evening with a coffee. All in all, I very much enjoyed my evening. I enjoyed sitting on the patio and the food was good. Staff allowed for a relaxing evening and allowed us to stay on the patio chatting even after we had paid our bill. I do think there were times when I wish we had been given water, wine, or coffee sooner. It did seem like there were not many servers, so they were busy despite the small crowd. Finally, though I enjoyed the food, I don't think there was one dish that I feel was a "have to have", which is my reason that I do not give 5 stars. read more

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Visited on Sunday for SD Restaurant Week lunch...what a nice surprise! Will definitely be back. This is a newer restaurant, opened November of last year inside the Mingei museum. Great indoor and covered (and enclosed) patio seating. Accepts reservations on open table. The wait staff were all incredibly friends, and all of our dishes were delicious. Great plating and nice flavors. Really nice cocktails too. Such a hidden gem in Balboa! Would chose this over Prada if you're trying to chose between the two. read more

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Favorite bartender Kelly knows my drink order and greets me with "a Desert Flower, my Queen?" and I truly don't know a better way to be greeted. Delicious food all around, always get some combination of the snack menu, always interesting & immensely satisfying! read more