Great food, a fun environment, and a wide selection of beer and liquor options! This place is perfect for groups of any size. The server was either pushing to sell more or was not aware of how big the portions were, he said the dishes we had ordered were a little small and encouraged us to keep ordering, all dishes were pretty big, so we had a bunch of leftover food. read more

Common Theory - Gastropubs Near Me - San Diego, California

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Extensive menu, good service, good filling food. Typical gastro pub. No complaints.

For just the beer, I think this place is great. Lots of options on draft. Big open space with lots of seating in different layouts -- you got your long picnic style tables, your typical square tables and high/low ones as well, and even some more lounge-like areas in the corners. Easy to snag a spot and chat. Great appetizers, gastropub foods -- if there's anything fried in duck fat, it's a gastropub haha. We got the pretzel balls, which were good. But then we saw the cheese balls, which looked amazing...next time! The main entree though was just meh. Got their classic burger while my buddy grabbed a different burger on the menu. Both our patties were dry. Flavorless. So sad. Maybe a bad batch? I guess we'll just stick with the beers and apps! read more

Common Theory - Beer pretzel balls. Great crunchy shell with soft, scrumptious interior. Might have to scrape some of that salt off tho :P - Gastropubs Near Me - San Diego, California

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Been here a couple of times recently, on a date, and with a group of friends. Excellent atmosphere and very friendly staff with great customer service. Food was great, I'm a very good selection of drinks. Also plays sports, which adds to the atmosphere. Definitely a great casual place to grab a bite and a couple of beers. read more

First time there and I can say it was a great experience. We chose outside seating and ended up at a table for two next the building for shade. The have a section with a over hanging ledge. We ordered the Tri tip burger with fries. One of the orders we chose to swap fries for Brussels sprouts. What a great choice. Everything was sooo good. This is a place to think about for any occasion, lunch, dinner. One thing I did notice they have these roller windows that at a certain time of the day the open and the atmosphere changes. The only reason I did rate it 5 stars was because they only have 3 cocktails. Bourbon, Vodka and Tequila. So if you like beer you should be fine. Hey if you don't believe me go check it out for yourself. read more

I used to rave about Common Theory prior to being a Yelper.. but my, oh my, the times have changed since. My favorite was their mac-n-cheese and was gravely disappointed to find out that they took it of their menu, since, per their server, there's a new chef! That mac-n-cheese was fiiiiire and I'm legit sad that it's not available anymore :( We ordered the pretzel balls and double duck fat fries for appetizers; for our main course, we had their steak frites. The cut for the night was a rib-eye. I'm a fan of their pretzel-balls. That beer-flavored cheese dip is money; I don't care for the mustard sauce, but that's because I don't like mustard in general, lol. The double duck fat fries is good, but way overpriced. Lastly, the steak was a let-down. We had asked for it to be cooked medium and we could tell that the meat was not cooked medium all-throughout. Some spots were more medium-rare and the fat was not rendered enough. The blue cheese on top of their steak was not my favorite, either. The steak was a big reason why I'm giving them a 3-star rather than a 4-star. To be fair, this place is excellent for the vibe/atmosphere and their beers. I am sad to conclude that their food is not up-to-par to the rest of the restaurant (location, overall atmosphere, actual beer selection). Customer service is generally good as well -- I haven't had a bad experience here (yet). My advice is to come here for the beers and to get appetizers (their chicken wings are pretty yummy, too). Stay away from the entrées! PS - BRING BACK YOUR MAC N' CHEESE D: read more

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Great place, with so delicious food... omg! So yummy! And Alex give us such a nice and warm service! We'll be back ! read more

I used to come here all the time when one of my friends had a shop in the same plaza, so I'd park in the back since parking is tough at times. Really yummy food, definitely have to try the duck fat fries. Not too many people have tried duck, but these fries... so nom noms. I'm a big snacker so their menu is my go to. Wings, pretzels,etc. sitting arrangements: open bar sitting, benches, booths, outside seating and cute little lounging areas for bigger groups. Big options of beers not too many liquor drinks but I'm always down for beer! Although they do have a speakeasy through the bright doors which helps if you have a reservations, but you can try to walk in and out your name down. Sadly I haven't gotten the chance to experience the speakeasy, one day I will! I've had a quick walk through one time with the owner and omg it is a must go! Very cool experience when you walk in, atmosphere is relaxing, dim lighting etc. Since I haven't experienced it, I will need to do another review when I do. Servers, bartenders, owners are amazing! Love everyone's own styles, very chill vibes and very nice people. Every time I go here I enjoyed my time. One of the servers always helped me out, and made my night. So I gotta say Thanks micheal! Need a nice chill place to grab a beer or 4, come here! read more

Came here on a Saturday night and it was lovely. They had live music for a few hours but we came towards the end so we didn't get to enjoy the lovely voice of Rachel jay for that long! Will be coming Back. Speakeasy located inside as well. read more

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It's a nice change to Convoy area but it's overpriced beers that seem to always run out... Concept is cool for Convoy area. Seems like it did well here because it's not so Asian and Asian ghetto. It'll fit right in Gaslamp area. Super noisy/loud and busy. Bartenders were cool. read more

Common Theory - El Segundo beer - Gastropubs Near Me - San Diego, California

Whenever I'm in town this place seems to hit the spot when I am craving some good food. Its your typical trendy beer burger type of place with some interesting gourmet items on their menu. It was pretty packed during lunch but our waiter quickly took our order and brought us waters. I was curious to try some of their Australian peach soda because it sounded refreshing on a hot day. It was super yummy, kind of on the sweet side but still very good. Last time I was here I had their brussels sprouts to start and they were so good. They were drenched in a savory balsamic vinaigrette and topped with truffle cheese slices. This time when I ordered their brussels sprouts they were quite different, still good but this time they came with green apple slices and a different sauce and no cheese. They must change their menu items periodically because the last time I was here I didn't see the Ramen burger on their menu so of course I had to try it! After waiting for a while, my coworker and I were starting to feel like they might of forgotten us. It was crowded so we were hopeful that our food would eventually come out. After a 45 minute wait our waiter came out to give us the bad news. The bad news was that their head chef had just walked out and that no food was coming out of the kitchen anymore. He felt horrible, I mean it wasn't his fault but my coworker and I were so bummed because we were so looking forward to our Ramen burger. It was the first time for both of us to try to it so we were super bummed. The waiter apologized and said that our appetizer and drinks would be covered and he was going to bring us some gift cards. At this point, my coworker was going through so many different emotions but I someone remain calm since I had never experience this before. As we were getting ready to leave our waiter comes back with our entrees and said that these orders were completed before the chef had left. We were so confused but the Ramen burgers looked amazing that we forgot about the whole ordeal and dove in. It was amazing!! the noodle buns were nice and crunchy but soft at the same time and the beef was cooked perfectly. It didn't have that many toppings because it didn't need any. It was very rich but I managed to devour it all! The side fries were covered in pepper and were also very tasty. This was a crazy experience that I don't think anyone wants to go through but I was at least happy that the food was good.I hope they find another waiter that can reproduce the delicious meals I have had here. read more

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Fun spot in Convoy for some American food and a wide variety of draft beers. Great vibes here, tvs to watch games and yummy food! We got the buffalo cauliflower (sooo yummy, crispy outside), salt and pepper wings (must try! I want more) and the sausage flatbread. All of our food was really good so I would trust other things on the menu. Its high quality bar food and I am here for it. There is outdoor seating and big open windows that make the space feel nice and open. I will def be back for those wings and can't wait to try the rest of the menu! read more

Common Theory - Chicken Wings, buffalo cauliflower and sausage flatbread - Gastropubs Near Me - San Diego, California

LOVE Common Theory! I don't understand why the rating is a little low for this place. Been coming here for years and it's fantastic. I usually sit at the bar and the bartenders are always friendly and fast. Josh is "the man" and always gives great advice on what new beer to try. The menu changes seasonally and it's become a staple in the Convoy area. read more

This is a great gastro-pub with just a great and awesome menu. I had the Thai Chicken Salad with any extra helping of grilled chicken thigh for the protein added. My friend had a chicken kotsu bowl. The food tasted fantastic. The spice level was just perfect, nothing over the top. It's a seat yourself place during lunch and for dinner I would suggest reservations. The waitress was also our bartender and she did great managing the bar and several tables all at the same time. I heard through the grapevine that there is some kind of speak easy associated with the gastropub but I have not tried it yet. I've heard the signature cocktail there are fantastic. We went at lunch during work so we stuck to ice tea. The mood and atmosphere is super casual. Window line two sides and with great weather the windowed garage doors will open to a beautiful patio for outdoor seating. We've been here before and we'll definitely keep coming back. read more

Hey Cris! We came in for lunch! LOL! Had the delicious fried chicken and crabcake! Loved the sauteed corn in garlic and fingerling potatoes! The partner in crime had the bacon and blue burger but with cheddar instead. Brought Cako and our friendly server brought water out for her which was nice. We didn't have to ask. The side patio can get hot in the sun, so I do recommend late afternoon. Cako Approves! read more

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I came here recently for the first time. I almost didn't come in because parking was terrible. The parking lot is small with bad design. Luckily I found street parking a few minutes away. I'm glad I decided to stop in. The atmosphere is on point. They have a killer rotating craft beer menu. And all the food looked delicious. I got the margarita flat bread and a beer, which ran me about $22. The flatbread was delicious, probably not big enough to fill up a really hungry human but it hit the spot for me. They had a couple sours in draft which I love. I had a pineapple sour, yum! Service was great. My only complaint is I gave the bartender my card to keep a tab open but asked to pay cash at the end. The bartender accidentally ran my card and didn't tell me. It all worked out in the end but hey the honest communication would have been appreciated! Nonetheless overall great experience read more

Common Theory - Dining Area - Gastropubs Near Me - San Diego, California

Pork belly mac n cheese & fried Brussel sprouts is to die for! Their cocktails was amazing. This is going to be my every week. Well that's if I live in SD... read more

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Common Theory Public House is a gastropub located in a small plaza with other Asian eateries that includes Blush Desserts (right next to this place), Kung Fu Tea & R3Fresh Juice Bar. Last Friday evening a little before 7:15 pm, my husband and I decided to come here for dinner with our little girl dog because of their (covered) outdoor back patio. The hostess at the front of the restaurant met us in the back patio after I told her that we were going to sit in the back patio. After browsing the menu, we ended up ordering: Roasted Beet Salad, $10 prior to tax- I requested to omit the feta cheese and dressing on the side. I liked the flavor of the red and golden beets in this salad. The size of the salad was a good portion for one person or enough to share with another person. Most restaurants like to add salt and pepper to make a salad tastier and it was prominent that there was salt and pepper in this salad. I thought whoever made this salad was a little heavy handed with the salt (not that this salad was salty but I saw plenty remained in my plate when I was almost done eating). Garden Flatbread, $13.50 prior to tax- Our server recommended this flatbread and so I decided to get it (I found out that the difference between flatbread and pizza is that a flatbread tends to be oval shaped, less sauce and less toppings). This flatbread came with 5 large pieces that had plenty of assorted vegetables in each bite. I liked the pesto on this pizza, which was a nice change from traditional marinara sauce as a base. Spicy Grilled Chicken Burger, $13 prior to tax with Veggie Slaw as side. Fried egg added, $1.50 prior to tax- For any burger entrees, you have a choice of veggie slaw, fries or house chips. My husband opted for the slaw. My husband thought it would be nice to add a fried egg to this burger and enjoyed the combination. Because I do not eat spicy foods (doesn't sit well with me), I didn't try any of his burger. But my husband thought the chicken had a kick. He described it to be as if the chicken was marinaded in Tabasco sauce because that taste like the spice used to make this chicken spicy. He did like this burger. The slaw was also spicy and he told me it kind of reminded him of the same spices used in kimchi. ---------------------------------- (Total= $40.95 after tax, prior to tip) I was afraid that we would be ignored or that our server would not be attentive because we were sitting in the back patio (we were the only ones out there). But our server really did an excellent job to check up on us throughout our meal and see how we were doing. It was a little cold when we were outside and so I asked if he could turn on one of the heat lamps. He did so immediately for us and also told us that we can lower the heat if it gets too hot for us. I thought the food we had was good and the service was great. I also truly appreciate the dog friendly outdoor seating and would come back here again (and maybe try one of their many beers on tap). By the way, there is free WiFi (and was fast) in case you wish to surf the net while you wait for your order. The ladies restroom (in the back of the restaurant) was clean upon this visit. read more

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I changed my mind. After many post work events at Common Theory, they've become my trusted go to spot for large Happy Hours. The bar food is great...yaas on the wings, yaas on the pork belly and yaas duck duck fat fat fries. Lots of beer to choose from, one the red wines Josh was very surprisingly nice. I had a clean and refreshing aloe cocktail and service aimed to please. I got to sit in the coveted, mid century modern rocking chair and just overall couldn't be more pleased. I can always find parking on the street, even if the lot is full. read more

Friendly staff, but horrible food. Over seasoned, over sauced, just not appetizing at all. Not knocking the chef, but the quality was not to par. read more

Just stopped by for a beer but we loved the vibe. Super casual and tons of seating. We didn't order food but there seemed to be tons of options of the menu too! read more

This is the best beer house I have found in the area. The food and beer is great and the staff is really friendly. Tons of space inside and great layout. Dog friendly and chill vibes. This is my new spot. Kayla was our server and was phenomenal! read more

Came here for lunch the other day and the restaurant looked empty around 1pm. The wait staff was friendly and got us seated quickly. We got the truffle duck fat fries, chicken pesto sandwich, the CT sliders, and Loco Moco. The fries were great! Perfectly fried and topped generously with duck and had the perfect amount of truffle flavor. The chicken pesto sandwich was underwhelming. It was dry and did not provide the pesto flavor I'm used to. The bread seemed overly charred and everything had a burnt taste. The CT sliders were average, nothing special about them. Finally, the Loco Moco was alright, it had a nice gravy overtop the purple colored rice. The interior is beautiful and there is a lot of room for group seating. They have a good selection of beers on tap. However, I only enjoyed about half the items I ordered here, so I probably will not be back for the food. read more

Common Theory - Truffle Duck Fat Fries - Delicious! - Gastropubs Near Me - San Diego, California

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First time here and the last time for me. First off, I waited at the front of the house for 5 minutes before I got tired and flagged downed an employee to see what the problem was. I was told that she was working in the back. Really this lacks management skills, I asked for the manager but was told that the owner was in. I was already upset and didn't want to talk to the owner because I really wanted to give CT a honest and fair review! Therese was our server and she did a great job, I would only come back to be waited by her. She was very attention oriented and made sure our dining experience was pleasant. I only bought up the issues I had after the check came to our table. They need some management training from Cross Street Chicken & Beer, they know how to treat a customer! We ordered the flights, pork belly, flock of duck fries, and crispy chicken wings. Our flock of duck fries didn't have any crispy duck skin, which we paid extra for. The menu was also changed a day or so ago so I didn't get my crab cakes, chicken or sausage platter! The duck fries were a 6/10, the duck tasted like pork. I'M ASIAN so I know my duck flavors. The crispy chicken wings were a 5/10, all crisp with no flavor. Seasoning is key and they lack plenty of it. The hell fire version and sauce was weak. My local taco shop has hotter sauce. The only thing that was perfect was the Sweet & Spicy Pork Belly. A 10/10, Gotta order this when you come here. The food came out quick and hot, I give credit for that! Inside is very loud and cramped, the vibe was OK. I wanted to sit outside for the view and fresh air. It's OK to sit outside during the day, but make sure you bring a coat after 7 pm. We asked for the heater to be turned on, but the two lamps did not have propane tanks, really! If you want beer and IPA this place has it, pass on the food and outside dining. This spot is perfect for a quick shot, but you will want to make sure your the two minute man! read more

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The food was great and the beer choices have something for everyone! I had the Szechuan Hot-Fried Chicken and it had amazing flavor and was huge in size, their "hot" ketchup is very hot try at your own risk. My wife had the Wagyu Ribeye Burger and left full and happy the caramelized onions and blue cheese packed on the flavor. read more

Great service and delicious food. Traditional American fare offered with some unique twists. Ask about the Speak Easy Reservation Only dining option with great ambiance for a date night read more

Really solid gastropub with plenty of brew and food choices. Happy hour is 3-6 on weekdays!! Parking in the lot is hit or miss, but there's usually plenty of street parking in the surrounding area. Like most gastropubs, the food is pretty good. We ordered the blue crab and cheddar pretzels, classic flatbread, and pork/duck/polenta. Pretzels- these were really good. Really interesting design, as you're getting pretzel balls on a stick and dipping it into some awesome spread. I would get it again Classic flatbread- it's good, but nothing special. Only got it because we had a vegetarian in our group Pork/duck/polenta- this is basically a heart attack. It was incredibly tasty and I enjoyed every bite. But I can see the butter and oil dripping off this dish. Good thing it was my cheat day! Great gastropub to grab a drink or dinner with friends or a date. I would definitely come back read more

I've been here twice in the past 2 weeks cause it's such a chill place to just grab a beer and relax. Food and beer: food here is really good! I've tried the wings, calamari, and duck fat fries and they've all been excellent. No complaints with food. They have a wide variety of beers to choose from all coming from different local breweries that are really good as well. Service: past two times visiting I've been greeted right away. I've sat at the bar both times and the bartenders are very attentive and informative regarding their beers and food. Parking: this is my only problem with this place because parking is pretty difficult to find due to the parking lot size compared to the number of businesses. Overall: I go to school nearby and if I could id be here either before or after for a quick beer and a bite to eat everyday. It's such a cool place to just relax read more

The guy behind the counter is very knowledgeable and the food was really good. Would recommend and will be back

Decided to try out a place in my neighborhood. This place is a new edition why not. Entered the place I stood at the door for about 5 min before the hostess ended her conversation with another employee before she acknowledged us. We got seated in a booth. It seemed to be one waitress working that night because it took a while for someone to come over for drink orders so we decided to order food since we didn't want to wait longer for food. Service needs improvement. I ordered a burger and fries it was ok nothing crazy. My bf had a flatbread which I tried and it wasn't that good. The atmosphere is good, cool decorations. I like the brick walls and art around the place. I've been here about 3 times and this is the last. Needs better service and food. read more

Common Theory - C.t. Burger and Shrimp & Crab "Po' Boy" Flatbread - Gastropubs Near Me - San Diego, California

Fish and chips were terrible, they tasted like they had been frozen for an extended period of time. Waitress was quick but mediocre service wasn't interested in making sure that we had a good time. Great place to go for a beer. Awesome place to try new beers as they have ample amount of choices. Good place for large groups. I wouldn't go back for food... probably would never go back at all. read more

Celebrated my 40th birthday with my husband and siblings. We've eaten here before but haven't been in a long while. This was the siblibgs' first time here. I wanted then to have tasty food and a good selection of beers and beverages. Brussels sprouts are a favorite of ours. We ordered so much food and just ended up exchanging bites of each other's food. There are items that are always on the menu, but some items are seasonal, so try it when you can. Don't be afraid to ask your server for recommendations! The ambiance is casual. You can reserve a table for your party. These tables usually have a bench seat so it can be tough on your back, but they have tables with chairs and booths too. Or you can sit at the bar or in some comfy chairs and sofas. Parking can get tight especially on weekend evenings, so you might want to arrive early or park a ways away and hoof it. One tip: I ordered a kids flatbread meal for my 5 yr old, it was a little too zesty for her, but she was happy with fries and other food we'd ordered. Portion size of the kids meal was good for an adult! read more

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SAN DIEGO BURGER WEEK! This modern hipstery joint was been open for a few years, and just a few miles from my condo, yet I had never been until now...its just that when I'm on Convey street I'm usually after some pho, ramen, dim sum, and more. Inside its modern, clean, and casual, with a friendly enough staff. The CT Torta Burger: Seasoned burger patty, mayonnaise, lettuce, avocado, pickled jalapenos...Only $6 during last week's Burger Week, and it was absolutely deliciousness. Usually I would decry jalapenos in anything but Mexican food, but this added such a light and fresh spicy flavor boost. No fries with this special price, but full price to recreate this tasty burger with fries would run $15.50(Take the $13.50 standard burger, add avocado $1.50, jalapenos $.50). $15.50 is on the high end side for burger and fries, but I might come back during happy hour where I can at least save some cash on beers. There's also a huge beer list, including the "Star Trek Klingon" which if you know me, I just had to get. Qapla'! Live long and prosper... read more

Common Theory - Gastropubs Near Me - San Diego, California

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Listen. Listening? Great. Do yourself a favor. Do your whole table a favor. Order the chicken katsu. Go ahead.. I'll enjoy a beer while I wait. You're welcome. read more

Our host for the evening was Josh and he was so attentive and so down to earth. The food was amazing and the atmosphere is really neat! We sat on the outdoor patio right around sunset. We will for sure visit again read more

Came here twice and it's always been good. They have plenty of seats inside and they have outdoor seating as well if you want to bring your dog. Our server was great unfortunately I forgot her name. She checked up on us multiple times and made sure we were taken care of. She also gave our dog some water which was nice of her. I ordered the hell fire flat bread and my girlfriend ordered the hell fire chicken wings. We both liked our food it wasn't too spicy but just the right amount of spiciness. They have a lot of beers you can choose from as well. The only downside I had was that the food did take awhile to be done. Our server apologized But it was ok we weren't in a hurry or anything and it wasn't her fault. Would definitely come back again. read more

Common Theory - Hell fire flat bread. - Gastropubs Near Me - San Diego, California

The food and drinks were amazing. Our waiter/bartender was the best! However, there was a runner with bright yellow hair who was really off-putting and RUDE! I ordered the hummus platter that wasn't advertised as having veggies on the side. When it showed up, I realized it had cucumbers AND tomatoes on the plate. I'm ALLERGIC to tomatoes, so I nicely asked the runner if there was a way to only get cucumber because of my allergies when she rudely interrupted me to tell me "she didn't take orders". Didn't even try to fix the issue, and went back to the kitchen. My friend had to go up to our server, who was also the bartender, to ask for plain cucumber because we were all in shock by how RUDE the runner had been. As someone who's been in customer service before, her customer service was nonexistent. I never leave reviews, but honestly... it's been HOURS since this interaction and my friends and I can't stop thinking about it because of how bad it was. Overall, it was a great experience because of our waiter/bartender. But the runner... she sucks and shouldn't be around people with that horrible attitude. read more

Tried this place out for lunch with boyf . Not quite a large selection on the menu for lunch, but our food was great! We ordered the CT burger and the Spicy Chicken sandwich. Both were so juicy. Heart eyes for a restaurant finally providing chicken that wasn't dry!!! Other Pros: - Great, open space with plenty of seating. - $3 off drafts 3-4PM! - Friendly staff with genuine food recommendations - Large parking lot (although I'm sure it fills up on weeknights or weekends...) read more

Common Theory - Gastropubs Near Me - San Diego, California

Common Theory Public House is somewhere I would go to catch up with old friends, sip on some beer, and just chill. The first time I went there was with these hypebeast SD natives @jojit @jordan @kingsley and of course we had our Snapchats and IG out to be taking food pics! My low spice tolerance and inability to eat fried food hindered me from eating their amazing wings and fried chicken, but the waiter was really sweet and their flatbreads definitely hit the spot. We went after a day of shooting in downtown, so being in a cool, open space was much needed :) The second time I went was with some friends I brought together, but they didn't know each other LOL we were trying to go to the "secret bar" that they had in the corner of their restaurant. Alas, we couldn't get inside the secret bar but we still enjoyed shooting the shit, drinking beers and telling awkward stories of how they all met me. BTW I appreciate the waiter who tolerated my friend- he was probably buzzed, so sorry if he straight up asked if you were Jewish :/ Ahemm @daniel let that be a lesson to you LOL Would I recommend going here -- yessssss 10/10! read more

Common Theory - Crispy Chicken Wings and Flatbread and Fries - Gastropubs Near Me - San Diego, California

Liked it a lot. A little noisy with the music but was good food and great beer. Service was awesome! I had the Pork Mac n Cheese. It was great kids had pizza. read more