A solid new addition to the del mar highlands! Everything we tried tasted pretty good, and the decor inside is really cute! Service was good. Overall, we were satisfied and would come back. Nice place to hang out and/or grab a drink! read more

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Off to a great start! Opening week was VERY well-staffed, and service was excellent. Kona Joe had our table and really made us smile. The space is open and spacious, with a nice view into the busy kitchen and a sizeable front patio. It's in the old Tilly's space, next to Philz and Mendocino. Plenty of parking in the lot or parking structure. The cocktail list is creative, with most drinks featuring a fresh puree or flavors, well poured and attractive. We really enjoyed touring the drinks. They are full-strength, and tend a little to the sweet side. Sangria is a light variant, more light and fizzy than red or heavy. Beer list also legit and locally sourced. The pretzel-ball fondue came hot, and with an obscene number of pretzel balls.. plenty to share for four people. The cheese dip is good, if a little salty. The chips and dip were also good, but a little oily for cold chips. Dip was excellent, and crossing over with the Pretzel balls and fondue is the way to go. If I'm honest, "Salty" is a bit of a menu theme, with the consensus that most things were rather salt-forward. Could do with less, perhaps. Desert mud pie was excellent, and the espresso dessert cocktail surprisingly good. I would get that again. The fried chicken looked great! Can't wait to try that one. The steak and fries was okay, salty, and not generous with either. If you want something dinner-size, go chicken. Many more things to try on this menu -- will be back. Probably more than once. read more

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Came here last night for happy hour! Loved loved loved it here. The service was AMAZING!!! The best I've received so far here. The food was so good, personally the chips and pretzels were my personal favorite. We god beer and long islands and it was great! Definitely loved it here. Will definitely be back next week. read more

Culinary Dropout - New American Near Me - San Diego, California

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Checked out the new Culinary Dropout in Del Mar and it definitely has that cool, laid-back vibe they're known for. The place was packed -- lots of people watching the game, eating classic American comfort food, and enjoying the live music (which was actually a nice touch -- the singer had a good voice and wasn't too loud or overbearing). We tried a few things: the BBQ Nachos, Popcorn Shrimp, Mongolian Short Rib, and Steak Frites. Overall, everything tasted pretty much how you'd expect -- solid, but nothing that really stood out or wowed us. The Steak Frites was probably the highlight -- steak cooked perfectly and the fries were crispy just how I like them. The BBQ Nachos came in a big portion, which was great for sharing, but the flavor was just okay. The rest of the dishes were fine but nothing memorable. Service was solid -- our waiter was friendly and attentive throughout the meal. Kind of funny though, all the servers looked like regular people hanging out, so it took a second to figure out who actually worked there. All in all, it's a lively spot with good vibes, solid service, and straightforward food -- just don't expect to be blown away flavor-wise. Great place to grab drinks, watch a game, or listen to live music, but maybe not a destination for a standout meal. read more

Culinary Dropout - Crispy Popcorn Shrimp - New American Near Me - San Diego, California

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I felt compelled to write this review because I was super surprised at my experience last night! Shay was out server and she was a delight and the service was exceptional! Thank you Shay and my group of women friends and I will be most definitely coming back way more frequently so it's great to have a neighborhood spot! Chris, the manager was extraordinary, as well. He came over to check on us and made the experience so great as he genuinely appreciated us choosing to be there! The food was amazing~ a few of the women were surprised and so yay all around we loved our time there and think we're going to become regulars! Ty for making the evening fun filled and the music was off the charts too! Great girls night out and so much fun! Ambiance too was a treat! Thank you! Mimi read more

Culinary Dropout - Patio area - New American Near Me - San Diego, California

I have been looking forward to eating here for awhile and had the chance to visit with my husband a few days ago. Making a reservation was easy and I was excited to try it out. Pros-Beautiful restaurant and ambience, the live musician was fantastic, the staff was friendly, our appetizer made it to our table quickly. Cons-Our dinner took at least 40 minutes to get to us for no apparent reason, the food was fine but nothing impressive, my mashed potatoes weren't cold but they also weren't as warm as they should have been, the portion sizes were small especially for how much they cost. Overall, I would not go back anytime soon and was pretty disappointed with the experience here. read more

My partner and I had such a wonderful experience from start to finish! I made a reservation online with a note that we wanted to celebrate our anniversary. The host noticed this and wished us a happy anniversary. We got sat inside at a booth. Our server (the lady with the tattoos) was awesome! She was so friendly, attentive and welcoming. The overall service was stellar. The food and drinks came quickly. I ordered a prosecco. We ordered the pretzels to start, and we each ordered entrees. The pretzels are a heavy portion so you'll get your moneys worth. The pretzels could have used more salt but we added some at the table. The cheese comes in a cute pot and it was nicely melty. It is a filling appetizer. We almost didn't want to eat the entrees too. I ordered a Cesar salad with salmon as my main meal. The salmon had a crispy top. The salad was dressed well and had some croutons. I felt it was a bit too lemony overall for my preference but it was still okay. My partner liked his sandwich. It was so special that we got a free dessert for our anniversary. We could choose it too. We got the mud pie which was creamy and chocolatey. It had a slight bitter aftertaste which wasn't preferred. The presentation was lovely and comes with a cup of fudge to pour on top. What was super sweet is that as we were heading out, the bartender also wished us a good night. The staff noticing these things really goes a long way! Overall, the prices are standard. I'd definitely come back! read more

Culinary Dropout - New American Near Me - San Diego, California

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I visited last week and really liked the food, drinks, and atmosphere! My waitress Cadin was so nice and pleasant! I recommend trying this restaurant! :) read more

The service was great! Our waitress was awesome and checked in regularly. The Brussels sprouts were great and the patio was quite comfortable for lunch. The short rib was solid but could have been a bit more flavorful and warm. Felt like a good spot for a lunch meeting. read more

Culinary Dropout - Mongolian Short Rib - New American Near Me - San Diego, California

Great first time visit - service, ambiance, live music, HH wine and antipasti plate. We sat at the bar to take advantage of the HH specials. White and red wine (Chardonnay and Cab) were easy to drink. I loved the antipasti plate which had prosciutto, cheese, asparagus, raisins, truffle deviled eggs, apple slices, and fantastic toasted bread. It was just a fantastic variety. After a glass of wine, we tried the double blind and we ended up with a light beer and whisky shot. It was really more fun than anything since I'm not a beer fan. The last drink I tried was the summer sangria which I felt was too diluted and lacked the fruity flavors. Overall though, I enjoyed my first time here! read more

Culinary Dropout - Antipasti Plate HH - New American Near Me - San Diego, California

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Went to Culinary Dropout on Tuesday for lunch so it wasn't crowded at all. Got a table at patio. The 4 of us ordered Strawberry and Spinach salad, crispy chicken katsu sandwich and Mongolian Short Rib entree to share. Server was very nice and even had kitchen cut sandwich into quarters without us requesting it. So thoughtful! Food was very delicious! I would order every one of those dishes again! Since we were celebrating a birthday, we got a complimentary Strawberry Lemon Torte to share (it is like a strawberry shortcake with lemon curd and meringue around it). Also very delicious! I look forward to trying other dishes too in the future. read more

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Food is fantastic and i love the ambience of the restaurant especially at night. Staff is very friendly.

Lily was wonderful! Very attentive, helpful and great customer service! We enjoyed every dish - the pretzels, pork belly nachos, Brussels, whipped feta and tahini, fish and chips and sushi! We will be back! read more

The food was outstanding. The menu strikes a great balance between elevated comfort food and creative offerings, making it easy for everyone in the group to find something they loved. The ambiance is one of the restaurant's biggest strengths. It manages to feel both upscale and relaxed, with a lively atmosphere that's perfect for anything from a casual dinner to a night out with friends. The music, decor, and overall energy create a welcoming environment that encourages you to stay and enjoy the experience. Every team member we interacted with was friendly, professional, and genuinely attentive. Service was prompt without feeling rushed, and the staff went out of their way to ensure everything was perfect throughout the meal. read more

I will definitely be back. The food was so good. I saw some reviews saying it was underwhelming as well as some saying bad customer service but that was not my experience at all. To start, I had a 530 reservation for 6 but unfortunately we weren't going to get there until 540 and we now had 7. They were very accommodating. My husband has the fried chicken, my son had the katsu sandwich and I had the chicken chopped salad. We also had a Mac burger and fish and chips as well as the California roll and deviled eggs at the table The mashed potatoes with the fried chicken dish wee probably the best I've had. I don't even care for mashed potatoes anymore since I was on a low carb diet for a couple years but these were amazing. My son's sandwich was also really good. I would probably order that next time if not for how tasty my salad was. Love that it came with a deviled egg. Love the deviled eggs. My husband said the truffle flavor was too strong but I wholeheartedly disagree. The guys likes the Mac burger. The fries were good but not great. My sons had a Caesar instead of fries with his and I liked that option. Fish and chips and sushi roll enjoyed theirs. The iced tea was also fresh which I always appreciate. There was a bit of a hiccup with service but the manager made sure to take care of us and brought my husband a piece of cake since we were there to celebrate his birthday to make up for the misstep. Food was great, felt valued as a customer and we will be back read more

First time at Culinary Dropout for a friends birthday and it's great they are able to accommodate large groups of 10. That can be difficult for a restaurant in Carmel Valley. The decor is trendy and the vibe is upbeat. I am gluten free and unfortunately none of the menu items are labeled. I asked the server what I could have and the advice I was given is that anything can be gluten free as long as it's not fried. I wasn't quite comfortable with that answer since the Brussels sprouts were recommended. The Brussel sprouts had gochujang sauce which is typically not gluten free. I would have liked a bit more specific information about allergens rather than that open ended statement so the only item I felt comfortable ordering was the truffle deviled eggs. The deviled eggs were delicious but wasn't quite satisfying enough to replace a full meal. The rest of my group enjoyed the food and drinks although the lemon drop martini seemed weak. read more

Culinary Dropout - Deviled eggs - New American Near Me - San Diego, California

First time visit to this location. Had a great mother's day meal with Ariel as our server. She was nice, fun, and attentive. We ordered the deviled eggs to start that were very tasty. For entrees, our server suggested the steak frites and the salmon. Both were very flavorfull and plenty big to fill us up. Would recommend this place and will be visiting again to have Ariel serve us. read more

Poor service cold food not worth the price they are selling the food for.Waited for like 30 minutes and no one was in the restaurant I rather go to Dennys then this place. read more

Amazing food and service. All workers were wonderfully kind and friendly. Ambiance was incredible and a fun environment!

Loved this newly opened restaurant in Del Mar! They have an outdoor patio, and the decor inside is pretty nice. It's great for small and big parties. Food was good, and it was warm. According to our server, everything was made from scratch. From biscuits to tortillas. I ordered Fried Chicken and Buttermilk biscuit- it was delicious! The chicken was juicy and the gravy complimented both the taste of the chicken and biscuits. Will definitely go back! read more

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Been to this location twice and both times were delicious! Large selection for food and beverages and the staff had been top tier!

The atmosphere is really fun and the staff are all exceptionally friendly. The chopped Chicken salad is really great. It is served very cold so the lettuce is nice and crispy. They add one of their signature deviled eggs on top. Really tasty. read more

Culinary Dropout.... I don't think so! Let's start with location. Surrounded by some of our favorites in the One Paseo area so definitely has location in their favor. Out door patio Full bar . Location as discussed, heavy hitters all through that area.. Dog friendly patio was a plus! Shout out to Chris the manager, came and checked on us upon arrival, pleasant conversation to boot. Waitress was friendly, spoke well and described their menu and even had some recommendations. I had the Steak Frites... now I'm not mad at the meal, but let's actually give some fries. Flavor was great, portion as I mentioned was not quite to my approval. Then there was the "medium rare" (it wasn't ) Not burnt or anything, just not enough pink for me. And if we're talking price point... I would have been better off ordering the Korean New York.. better cut and only a couple bucks more. We will visit again, probably do a date night and leave the bitch at home.. lol ( female dog) . BTW.. Peroni on tap. read more

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I received excellent service from Shay D. She was so sweet and helpful. All her recommendations for food were delicious. I wish all the servers that I came across were as nice as Shay. read more

Reservations were smooth though maybe didn't need them. The place is open and I love how it connects to the outside making the place feel bright. The decor is unique and fun and odd all at the same time. The staff is superb but it's also hard to spot who is working which I get is the vibe. Started with drinks and the whipped feta which was delicious then ordered the fried chicken and biscuits. Turkey pastrami with fries and shared a salad. Everything was great. Surprisingly my favorite was the whipped feta tahini and my turkey pastrami. I honestly was not a fan of the fried chicken. It was a little thick on the breading and felt slightly burnt. But maybe that's just me read more

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Solid Spot with Great Vibes, but Fried Chicken Fell Short Stopped by Culinary Dropout in Del Mar Highlands and overall had a great experience! The vibe is super cool, the staff were friendly and on top of everything, and the service was excellent from start to finish. We started with the deviled eggs--highly recommend! Creamy, flavorful, and a great way to kick off the meal. The fish and chips were another winner--crispy, golden, and perfectly cooked with a great flaky texture inside. Now for the reason I'm giving 4 stars instead of 5: the fried chicken. It was a bit underwhelming, both in flavor and presentation. It just didn't match the standard of the other dishes, and the plating felt like an afterthought. Still, with great service and some standout items, it's definitely worth checking out. I'd come back--but I'll probably skip the fried chicken next time. read more

Culinary Dropout - These were awesome!!! - New American Near Me - San Diego, California

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Had been waiting a long time for them to up culinary dropout here in SD! Been going to the one in Scottsdale for many years. Service is great and the gastropub food really hits the spot. Especially love the prime rib sandwich, the pretzel, and deviled eggs. Ambiance is great with a great vibe read more

Went here for lunch with a friend and was blown away. We sat at the bar with Carley (sp?) and she was amazing! Gave us solid recommendations and she didn't disappoint, we got the crispy rice spicy tuna, shrimp salad, and I got the turkey pastrami sandwich on a pretzel bun (remembering it is making me drool)! The open air environment has a very chill vibe and you don't feel enclosed at any point! Great experience and we will be back!!! read more

Nice atmosphere, but food is just ok. The Mongolian Short Rib has tender cubes of meat, but it was drowning in a sauce that was too sweet. I couldn't finish eating the sticky rice because it was just soaking in the sweet tangy sauce. The fried chicken was tender inside, but the outside had an overcooked dark crust. The pretzels were just ok. read more

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This place was crowded. We arrived a bit early for our reservation and the hostess was able to still get us seated. The pork Nachos were sooo good. I also loved the setting and how large the restaurant was. Overall great experience and will be back. read more

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Visited last night for the first time. Very dark and southern/country ambience vibes. Menu was a little short, I wish there were more pasta/veggie options. I ordered the fried shrimp appetizer and house chips to start. Chips were good, a little too salty but the shrimp was tasty, although I wish there were more thicker cuts of zucchini. For my entree, I ordered the steak frites cooked medium rare. It was very chewy and not really melt in my mouth type of steak. For dessert I ordered the monkey bread. It took a while to get to our table and the portion was tiny, and more cut up apples than cinnamon bread. Overall okay vibes with a high price point. the server was very attentive and knowledgeable of the menu. read more

Ok, I've been here three times now and I've gotta say this place is awesome. I was a bit hesitant thinking it was another attempt at trendy fluff. Either I've started liking trendy stuff, or I was totally wrong in my impression. This place is warm, welcoming and fun. Service is super friendly and attentive. From the host stand to dessert they've got the service down. The food... I'm very excited I come here, each time my wife and I have tried something different. Everything has been delicious. We're looking forward to exploring the rest of the menu. Now, I'd be failing you if I didn't mention their pretzel bites with cheese fondue. These things are fluffy pillows of heaven. A must have! I recommend this place very highly. Oh and one of the managers, Chris, so awesome. We'll be back, a lot! read more

We came on a Wednesday night. It was cold and dreary evening, but as soon as we walked in the front door of this restaurant, the fun atmosphere hit us. It was so lively on a Wednesday night at 6 o'clock. The place was packed. We asked for a booth seat with our reservation but sadly we sat next to the bar (we did ask to move to other booths we saw was told someone else had reserved those tables). Next time we will ask for a booth seating not near the bar. Besides that, the rest of the night was fun. We loved the music. Our waitress was amazing and the food was good. We will definitely come back. And we especially want to try the happy hour next time. read more

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Took myself for happy hour. Nice bar area, good quality food, ok portion sizes for the happy hour dishes. Will need to go try some more dishes read more

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Great service. The food was really delicious. The cocktails were also good. Great ambiance. Would recommend 5/5. read more

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The steak frites was the most perfect balance between wanting a fancy steak dinner and a casual bite. The steak was cooked perfectly and the sauce paired with it really stole the show! Highly recommend the steak frites and definitely get the garlic fries!! My boyfriend and I sat at the bar as it is open seating and we loved being able to watch the sun set between the buildings outside the patio area. The pretzels were also super good, but definitely only get them if you're with a group so you don't fill up quite as much on bread before your meal comes out since there were a lot of bites! read more

Culinary Dropout - Soft Pretzels & Provolone Fondue - New American Near Me - San Diego, California

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I came by on a Friday around 12:30 PM. There was plenty of seating available both inside and outside, and I really liked the playful artwork throughout the space. Parking was a bit of a challenge since the restaurant is in a busy shopping center. As soon as we walked in, our waitress greeted us and brought us water right away. She recommended the brussels sprouts to start, but unfortunately, they were probably the least enjoyable I've had--slightly burnt with a bit of a kick that didn't quite work for me. Normally, brussels sprouts are a favorite, but this version missed the mark. I ordered the rainbow sushi roll, which was decent, though nothing memorable. It's not a sushi spot, so I wasn't expecting much. My friend had the skirt steak with fries. The fries were somewhere between thin cut and steak fries--good, but I personally prefer mine crispier. The steak itself was well-seasoned and tasty. Overall, the service was excellent, but the food felt pretty average. It leaned more toward sports bar fare than a quality lunch spot. read more

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Food was so good. I had the salmon with Bustamante rice and truffle fries. Service was great. Outdoor seating for dogs. Clean. Quiet. Elsa and Jenna were so sweet. read more

Culinary Dropout - Outdoor seating with heat lamps. - New American Near Me - San Diego, California

I've been to Culinary Dropout in Tucson and Scottsdale and so keeping the amazing food in mind I had to try it out here as well. Here are my two cents Ambiance and decor is fun as expected. Service was amazing and quick. However the happy hour menu was not good with all food items with pork. Wings which are usually the staple for happy hour was missing. Since we don't eat port the only thing options we had were Brussels sprouts or chips. I think they should fix that menu. Otherwise on the regular menu options are decent and food was delicious as always but sushi was bad. I think they should take it off the menu.. hence the 4 stars. Would I come again probably if going for typical American food with a price tag otherwise the chances are less. read more

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We have been to two locations in Arizona so we were excited that one opened up just down the street from us in Del Mar! The hostess was super friendly and got us seated right away. The server was really helpful with helping us determine what to get to eat and very knowledgeable of the menu. This is an upscale bar/brewery. The food is really good, fast service and the ambiance was nice. It seems like a slightly less party atmosphere than the Phoenix one I have been to which I like. We will be back! Great service, reasonable prices and tasty food! read more

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