Works for me. Best Brussels sprouts I have ever had! Burgers and salads are good. Great customer service read more

The food is so yummy, the team always provides an awesome service. The ambiance is very relaxing.

Took the family out and WOW what a beautiful place. Great staff and unbelievable food craft drinks to the exceptional service Crab Cakes-delicious Bone Marrow-fantastic Red Snapper -perfection Suggest you check them out read more

Black Rail Kitchen + Bar - Mediterranean Near Me - Carlsbad, California

My favorite restaurant in north county! Wow, what a wonderful place with awesome flavors and so many amazing food options and incredible drinks. Service is outstanding. We had dinner at the 4 seasons and wanted to catch live jazz (wed-Saturday) 6-8pm and wanted a night cap drink. We felt guilty because they sat us down in such a nice corner booth. Brian M was our server and we were upfront that we had dinner and here for drinks. He was BEYOND awesome. Attentive, kind, and provided us with the best service. We love coming here and now love it so much more just because of how kind they are to all customers despite if you are having dinner or a nightcap drink. Thank you, Brian M for your amazing service read more

Black Rail Kitchen + Bar - Mediterranean Near Me - Carlsbad, California

Great atmosphere, nicely decorated. Food is great !! Wait staff is on point . Listened to Lester Abrams Band live.

Friendly inviting atmosphere! The staff are welcoming and ready to answer questions and serve you! Had a couple of appetizers and they were all good! We sat at the bar. Piano player was ok - should have just stuck to playing the piano - singing - a little more practice! read more

The restaurant changed management recently and not for the better. The drinks are not as good. The happy hour menu which was exceptional is now uninteresting and in some cases overpriced. The new server we got took an incredibly long time to take our orders. He kept saying "cheers" at the end of each, which considering this is not Britain, was out of place. All in all, a great disappointment read more

Very consistent with friendly and professional staff. They have a decent happy hour as well and plenty of parking. I have been back 4 times over 3 months. read more

My mother-in-law this down the street. She's just go there because it has a variety of food is delicious. The servers came up to our table within 30 seconds.. They are order within two minutes. The ambience was gorgeous. I would recommend this restaurant? read more

Phenomenal I rarely write reviews but I took my wife and 13-year-old daughter here last night for our anniversary (22 years!) and the food and atmosphere was excellent. My wife loved her steak sandwich and my barbacoa prime rib sandwich was amazing (and, being honest, it was better than Nick's in either San Clemente or Carlsbad). We both had vodka martinis which happened to be on happy hour and our waitress was amazing and even knew it was our anniversary and gave us a dessert. Not only will we be returning but I'll be recommending this to our local friends. This is one of the better finds in North County in my opinion. read more

First, the service here was FANTASTIC! From beginning to end. The hostess was welcoming and warm and our server (Brian) was SUPER friendly, attentive, and quick. Service was a 5 star! The food overall was good and 4 stars, which is what's driving the rating. We were here for brunch on a Sunday (with live jazz playing). My son had the basil pizza, other son has a burger, my wife had an open steak sandwich, and I had the crab cake eggs benedict. My son loved the pizza. My other son loved the burger, but the salad was over dressed for him. My wife said the steak sandwich was solid, though the sandwich could have used a bit more sauce or something to moisten up the bread a bit as it was overall a little dry. My crab Benedict was solid as well, although could have Jude's a little more seasoning or kick of something (cajun spice, etc). I also had a cold brew cocktail with bourbon -- that was awesome. We'll be back for sure. read more

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I relied on the review of this place and I am pleasantly surprised that it exceeded my expectations. Great ambience and every food that we ordered, from appetizer to the entrees did not disappoint us. Had the Brussels sprouts and charcuterie board for starters and the grilled salmon, fried red snapper, spicy choppino and land sea were perfectly presented and seasoned. The combination of exceptional food and impeccable service created a truly enjoyable dining experience. Bruce, our server,was knowledgeable about the menu, offering insightful recommendations without being pushy. His friendly demeanor and genuine warmth made us feel right at home. He ensured our every need was met, anticipating our wants before we even voiced them. I highly recommend this place and be guaranteed a great experience. read more

Black Rail Kitchen + Bar - Mediterranean Near Me - Carlsbad, California

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An awesome place with great live jazz music, wonderful food and reasonable prices. Highly recommend! One constructive criticism however, the band stopped playing at 7:45. That's awfully early on a Saturday night... They should play till at least 9 PM. read more

Food was great. I really enjoyed the seared ahi tuna. Jazz was a nice change. Definitely recommend.

Eaten here a few times and enjoyed our experience, but tonight, after my wife ordering a Aperol Spritz. We won't be returning. So we ordered the Aperol Spritz and it came in a fluted glass, we asked the server politely to place it in a wine glass. The server transfers the drink and it only filled the bottom of the glass, we told the server the amount is wrong. The server argues with us and explains that's how they always serve it. We told him, "no you don't" because we always order this here. The server brings it back and the bartender just adds ice and soda water to make it look full. We got up and walked out. Such a shame. We spend lots of money at places we enjoy. read more

We celebrated a birthday dinner here. The food was good. Our waiter Daniel was excellent. The menu is a bit overpriced for what you get. We had a party of 8 people, so I expected the standard 20% tip to be automatically added to the bill. I was not happy when I saw their 5% "Supplemental Fee" added onto the bill though. I checked their website after and they do mention the 5% fee on the menu on their website. I will probably not go back though due to the "supplemental fee." I'm just generally put off when restaurants do this. If a restaurant wants/needs to raise menu prices on some items, then just do that. Don't hide higher prices with an extra fee added to bill. read more

Went at 9pm with my kid, restaurant was supposed to close at 10pm. The hostess sat us at the table, brought the menu and then a guy, supposedly a manager, came out and told us he was sorry but the kitchen JUST closed because nobody ordered food for an hour. He also said we could have drinks, with my 14 years old (I am not sure if it was a bad joke or what). Very disappointing. read more

First time there & it was a Monday night, husband and me meeting another couple: Service was friendly and the ambiance classy and moody. Perfect for a date night inside or out on the patio. Heads up bc the entire menu just changed. We enjoyed red wines and hard kombucha & the charcuterie to start. A perfect amount for 4 as an app. For dinner the house made linguini pasta with clams was flavorful and the sauce was nice, smooth & light. Husband's spicy seafood cioppino looked great and he loved it. We'll definitely return. read more

Patio with live jazz in the evening enhanced the wonderful lamb ball entree Hummus appetizer was exceptional tasty.

I stumbled upon Black Rail after attending an opening at the nearby Canon Art Gallery, and wow! Black Rail is surprisingly beautiful & delicious. Friday night & the patio was packed solid, so we opted for a cozy booth indoors. 10/10 recommend, as the dining room & bar are quite stunning. Service was friendly & fast, which I really appreciate when dining with my young son! I really loved the octopus salad. It's a great starter to share, but I was looking for something light & chose it as my entree. Great flavors & the octopus legs were seared to perfection. Don't snooze on the fusilli primavera - that smoked butter is a game changer! Holy cow, it's the best (and most indulgent) primavera I've ever tasted. Loved it; has a crave-able unique flavor. I'm not in this shopping center much and really enjoyed discovering Black Rail! Elevated food with a local relaxed vibe. read more

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Service and ambiance are always great. While the food is excellent it is very limited in my opinion! But always have amazing service.

I have nothing but praise for this place. We came in for a first-time try a few weeks ago, and I was blown away by the amazing service, quality of food, and portion size for the price. We returned a few nights ago for second try and it was as faultless as our first experience. Everything from the steaks to the seafood is expertly prepared. Our servers on both occasions were available but not "hovering". The portion size for the price is on point. Oh, and the atmosphere is modern but elegant. Black Rail is a true gem in the Carlsbad dining scene! read more

We just came for cocktails and a light appetizer and dessert so can't speak to most of the food. Parking: Plenty of parking in the supermarket parking lot. Ambience:beautiful. Velvet lined booths, lovely bar. Sound: the jazz band stopped at 8 but there was another musician. It was pretty loud and couldn't hearselves when they were playing. But when they stopped it was fine. Reservations: we walked in on a Saturday night at 8.30 and didn't need without any reservations and seated immediately. Service: our server was sharday. Attentive without being intrusive. She was very sweet. well executed cocktails. I had the puns and roses and it was wonderful. My husband had the apple blossom and liked it. My friends had the skinny margarita and browned something whiskey and liked it too. We had one appetizer with burrata and bread and it was tasty. We ordered the Malabi and And chocolate lava cake. Yummy. Both very good. read more

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We had dinner on the patio, where they had heaters and live music, creating a wonderful atmosphere. We started with a flatbread to share, which was phenomenal. For the main course, I ordered the New York steak medium rare, but it initially arrived very well done (not pictured). Our server was extremely apologetic, and they quickly brought out a new steak cooked perfectly to medium rare (pictured). They also graciously took a dessert off our check for the inconvenience. Despite the mishap, the rest of the food was amazing, and the patio vibes were fantastic. Highly recommend! read more

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This is a tough review because some of our food was really good and some was just ok or not that good. We started with the short rib Empanadas. They had no flavor and were very doughy. For my entree I had the Chimichurri Mushroom/ lentil. It was fantastic. Great flavor and nice mix of different mushrooms with some veggies. My husband had the hamburger which he said was good as well. Our friends had salads then the Cubano and the Mushroom Flatbread. The Cubano is very different than a typical one but he liked it. The Mushroom Flatbread was just ok and that was according to our friend and myself since I took a bite. The flavors just didn't go well together. My friend ordered dessert (can't remember the name) but it fell short. Our server was attentive and friendly and we liked the atmosphere but since this place is inconsistent we probably wouldn't go back. read more

Business operating during the pandemic, "thank you" Review #55 guessing they only recently reopened for indoor dining so it's not surprising there were operational hiccups, but the effort was sincere, and I'm gonna cut 'em some slack. started with the ROASTED MUSSELS and CLAMS (cherry tomatoes, white wine, and smoked butter with grilled ciabatta bread) and the CHARCUTERIE (lomo, black truffle salami, soppressata, whipped ricotta, olives, cornichons, fig jam, whole-grain mustard and more grilled ciabatta). my fifteen-year old son Wyatt's "new thing" is appetizers. like most teenage boys he's a bottomless pit and since he hardly ever has desert, he gets a lot of latitude since he orders for the table and shares. both dishes were quite good. he enjoyed the mussel and clam dish enough to asked for mussels next Costco trip and Thai Red Curry Mussels at home. the whipped ricotta was the only cheese on the charcuterie board and would have preferred an additional hard cheese and a soft cheese with more punch, but as you can see from the photo, the presentation was gorgeous. the MEDITERRANEAN FLATBREAD (lamb, ricotta, Fresno chilis, toasted pine nuts, basil, mint, and flat-leaf parsley) was also good. be warned: the Fresno chilis were surprisingly hot and because the flat-leaf parsley was not minced. it's a bit in your face. it doesn't say so on the menu, but I remember the "sauce" being hummus which gave the dish a distinctive flavor. Wyatt devoured his BLACK RAIL HALF POUND BURGER (grilled prime beef, crispy pancetta, havarti, bibb lettuce, tomato slices, and black garlic aioli on a toasted brioche bun) with crispy fingerling potatoes with reckless abandon but was underwhelmed by the potatoes -- growing up on burgers and fries does create certain expectations. I thought they were pretty good and doggie bagged the leftovers for breakfast. read more

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I just love this place! Their burger, lamb meatballs, garlic butter shrimp, and el Camino cocktail are my go-tos. And their crispy potatoes! Service is always great and I love their live music (and blankets) on their patio. read more

Black Rail Kitchen + Bar - El Camino Cocktail -- their version of a spicy margarita. - Mediterranean Near Me - Carlsbad, California

Visiting from out of town. It's a nice place for dinner. Hubs got the half chicken which was juicy and a friend got the cioppino which they loved; it looked like it had a nice amount of seafood. Sadly my skirt steak was overdone, room temperature, and the fries were also room temp. The chimmichuri sauce didn't do anything for it; if it was made better it could have salvaged the steak a little bit. The skirt steak would have been good as a steak sandwich rather than on its own. I hate sending food back so just troopered on. Service was good; friendly. It's a nice place to come to, parking is easy. They have blankets in case you get cold outside. read more

My first time here and love this family business I went there with my friend and we had a lovely time and they also had Jazz it was Sat around 5:30 pm, we had some great drinks like the apple bomb and mine was a mocktail, I truly loved the beet carpaccio salad, love love the white Mexican shrimp the sauce was so luscious, and the branzino and pork chop was great too, the staff is so friendly and attentive gotta come back and for sure for Jazz nights read more

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The food is consistently very good. The lamb was excellent but has a spice kick. The pork chop is my friend's favorite. The service is great. The waitress was attentive and filled up my water when needed. Not intrusive. The ambiiance is loud. All the clatter just elevates to a noisy environment. So the management charges 5% surcharge but it doesn't go to employees or health care for the employees, or for the cooks. The charge is there instead of raising prices. We look T the menu for prices. So this surcharge is a higher price without being honest. So they should just raise the prices Is read more

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First timer a month ago and now a regular... food and service were great! Table ordered a variety of house cocktails (Sandpiper, Sparrow & Pelican were Favs) and appetizers (Parmesan truffle fries and brussel sprouts). In addition, you cannot go wrong with pork chop, fusilli, and burger. Has been nice bringing our fur baby along for outdoors dining. read more

Perfect summer evening dining. At first glance the restaurant looks quaint. But behind the main wall is another bar that leads to a large outdoor dining area. Amazing music from the Whelan band was playing and it was perfect. We sat inside just off the patio in a roomy corner booth. The server, Keith, was attentive and knowledgeable. He was able to guide us in wine and food choices. I got the pork French dip. It was layers of thinly sliced pork with a spicy mustard and havarti. It was juicy, tangy, and creamy. The crispy fingerling potatoes were salty and a nice compliment to the French dip. The dip was also good, I needed more for sure! My wife got the salmon sandwich and it was enormous. An entire salmon filet packed between light, crispy bread. It was expertly cooked and seasoned. She also got the potatoes. A blonde ale for me and a Luke cab for her topped it off. Great place to eat and hang out. read more

Black Rail Kitchen + Bar - Pork French dip. - Mediterranean Near Me - Carlsbad, California

Great place , nice decor and friendly staff. Was with my niece who was attending the golf tournament at La costa golf resort from North Carolina . read more

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Well I don't dine much up in north county but with family in town I went to join them and this spot was honestly a pleasant surprise! There was a man playing the piano for fabulous background music while we were there and some light Christmas decor for the holiday season. Everything about this menu made me want to try more there was so many interesting things and I will definitely be back to try them. We ended up sharing some salads and their seasonal flatbread. My mom was so in love with her salad she ate every last bite and even considered ordering another one to go! The service was great from our server who was super nice and helpful with all my random questions and requests. This is definitely a great date night spot! read more

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We like this place. A nice date destination. It really should have received another star or two. Braised Lamb Ragu was stellar. A standout flavor combination. The Short Rib Pappardelle tonight was characterized similarly to why 'they' don't serve parmesan cheese in Italy; because, asking for additional cheese in Italy is considered an insult to the chef. For this plate tonight, we asked for more cheese. Service drops tonight included a couple of blunders from the host station. "Would you like to sit outside under the heat lamps?" "Otherwise, it's going to be better than a 45-minute wait". We didn't want to sit outside in the cold, "We'll wait". Then about 20 minutes later, "Your table is ready" . . . "no, wait, go sit back down (for another 5 minutes, in the very minimal lounge area) and we'll call you when we're ready", blaming the delay on the seater...greeter that made three passes of the podium pursuing other assignments. Don't quite know about that one. Another of service blunders this evening was the server's attempt at a larger tip by bringing back inappropriate cash denominations. Young man, your service was not THAT good. We'll scour the bottom of the purse to find some smaller bills. They did have a decent jazz threesome playing tonight. Do stop in and enjoy this very popular restaurant. Perhaps these service issues will be quickly resolved. Oh, and we found this on the menu as yet another in a string of restaurants that have incorporated, "A 5% surcharge will be added to all guest checks to help cover increasing costs and in support of the recent increases to minimum wage and benefits for our dedicated Team Members." WTF? The other restaurant we ate at for lunch today had this on their menu, "A 4% surcharge will be added to all dine-in guest checks. This fee will help cover increased costs; it is not a gratuity." Why don't these restaurants just increase their menu prices??? Perhaps it's just far less demanding than constantly reevaluating menu pricing. Maybe that's why they are in business, and I'm retired. I must've missed something in school. Dicks read more

Black Rail Kitchen + Bar - The sign, as seen through the trees, from way across the parking lot. - Mediterranean Near Me - Carlsbad, California

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Food is good but limited menu. The shrimp is nice and shishito peppers and Brussel sprouts. Wish they had a few more seafood dishes. Bar is great to grab a quick drink. Wish they had Belvedere though. Nice atmosphere. Love music would be nice. But decor is hitting and right down the street in the neighborhood. read more

Got the sandpiper cocktail and the kino garlic shrimp and it was amazing. Cocktail is great if you like sweet drinks like me. Brittany is so great and was amazing to us. Awesome ambience and again her service was the best. Love coming here. read more

Black Rail Kitchen + Bar - Sandpiper cocktail & Kino garlic shrimp - Mediterranean Near Me - Carlsbad, California

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I've seen this restaurant change hands many many times over the last 20 years. Love what they've done with Black Rail ambiance wise. Our first time in was a party of twelve on a Saturday for dinner. We got a server who might not have been a server because his table side manner was horrendous. When asked to accommodate an allergy his response was "well you're not going to be able to eat like 99% of the menu." This was extremely off putting and the rest of the meal followed suit. Hopefully this was one disgruntled employee but I may wait for this to go out of business to try whatever is next. read more

This review rating is for one thing only, customer service. Food was good, nothing special. Ambience is very nice. We sat outside and it was very pleasant. Now, the part that gets them a 1 star rating. I ordered a spicy margarita. When it arrived, I took one sip and saw a bug in my drink. I informed the waiter, who promptly removed my drink. I was expecting someone to come by and say something, but no one ever did. The waiter brought me a replacement drink after a 5 to 10 minute wait. The drink had melted and was watered down. Additionally, all the salt around the rim had washed into the drink. I asked for another replacement which arrived a couple minutes later. No one, including the waiter, manager, or anyone said anything to me. No apologies, no gestures of any kind. When we got the bill, we had been charged for all drinks!!! As we were leaving, the manager asked how everything was. When I said no one offered anything, from words to removing the drink, he said that he "meant" to take it off, and said he would make it right. I refused and paid for all drinks. Hopefully, this review will cost them more than a $15 drink!! read more

Upscale atmosphere with a pretty, shaded outdoor space complete with fire pits and blankets at every table for when it gets chilly. Average service and can get very busy for happy hours and dinner time. It's suitable for date night, casual dining, girls trips, work lunches. Food is a bit underwhelming, especially considering the prices. Our land & sea plate was $41 and only a few bites worth of food -- it was good but not what you would expect for the price. I had the chimichurri mushroom lentil plate for about $24 and added grilled salmon for another $12.50, I found it a bit dry and lacking the chimi flavor. I've had appetizers and cocktails in the past that were fantastic. Highly recommend the garlic shrimp appetizer. Overall I would come here more for cocktails/wine/beer and apps but maybe not another dinner. read more

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