I ordered from this place in February of this year. I know i'm making this review late. But believe me when i say that since having the crispy chicken caeser once, i have been thinking of it EVERYYYYY DAYYY ALL DAY. I seriously talk about it all of the time. and i'm not even joking. Guys .. i genuinely have not had a more delicious sandwich in SD than this one here. Everything about it was so delicious. The crispy chicken, delicious, the kale caeser, amazing. And they add fried onions to it, genius it really just tied it all together. If this place was closer to me i swear id be in every day. Driving 40 mins just to get this sandwich is 1000% worth it to me. i don't know what yall did but don't stop. absolutely delicious!!! read more

Came for lunch with the wifey. She'd been here with friends previously and said I'd like it. She knows me well. We had a chicken sandwich, the whole shebang sandwich and some fries. Oh and she had a cookie. The sandwiches were great. They both had little twists that made them especially enjoyable. For example the chicken sando has a kale salad mix In it that was delicious and prevent the sandwich from being too dry. A woman eat alone next to us noticed my wife had a cookie and the woman had one too. They struck up a conversation about how lucky they were that they still had cookies after noon and how they get so sad when they carve a cookie but are sold out. The young ladies working there were so polite and helpful too. read more

Super bummed out by my experience here. I heard so much praise for this place, but it's obviously extremely misplaced. Their "Happy Hour," which had no information anywhere on their website, is just $3 off wine & beer and virtually no food. Makes sense why they don't promote it. I had assumed that Happy Hour included a separate menu with appetizers, maybe even discounted apps, as most Happy Hours do. Yet, to my surprise, their Happy Hour offerings were just 4 of their full-priced starters- Meatballs, Burrata, Caesar Salad and Twice Cooked Fries. The rest of the menu was unavailable until 4:30pm. Yet, when I ordered the meatballs, they were out. So just 3 food items total available to order. Everything was painfully mediocre (decent burrata, soggy fries and a basic caesar salad) for the $15+ price tag per item. Also, their wine by the glass was SO PRICEY. Even after the happy hour discount, it was about 16+ per glass. For a Deli, really?? Our final bill was $88 for 3 apps, and 2 glasses of wine. They seriously need to get their act together and choose a lane, because you can't be serving essentially no food for Happy Hour, pricing items that high and expect to stay in business. And the ambiance too is lacking. We were eating essentially in a parking lot out of their "patio." The only redeeming thing about our experience was the service from our Waitress, Jess. She was incredibly attentive and friendly. read more

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Curry was outstanding! The bread is so fresh and curry was bold and flavorful. Can't wait for more. read more

If board n brew had a first class lounge, this would be it. No disrespect to board n brew. Love that spot. I just wouldn't bring my kids here after a rec sports game. The sandwich was massive and tasted good. I got "the whole shebang" to go. They have bar seating and a tv with sports on. The atmosphere is great. Nice decorations. Super friendly staff who offered their recommendations. $17.23 for the sandwich. They have wine and beer pairing recommendations for each dish. I'll be back to try other sandwiches. read more

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First impression, the ambience is immaculate! When we walked up to the counter to order to go, I asked about an allergy and the owner personally went and looked it up and double checked. We ordered a turkey club and the spicy mustard sauce is incredible! We will definitely be back soon. read more

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Stopped by Ernie's Deli & Wine Bar and had a great experience. They were unfortunately out of Dutch crunch (which was very sad), but the Turkey Club still hit the spot with sourdough. I'll definitely be back soon... and next time I'm getting that Dutch crunch! read more

Ernie's Craft Deli and Wine Bar - The Turkey Club on Sourdough - Delis Near Me - Encinitas, California

???? This place is amazing!!! Omg. Have known about it for a while, but haven't tried it until today (sitting at the table now) the chicken ceasar sliders and the meatballs were both so so good. 10/10. I'm obsessed. Gonna come back tomorrow. They have happy hour all day on Sunday on 6oz wine!! Our server was so nice and helpful with the menu. I love the green tile inside, super cute. Dave is the best. read more

Ernie's Craft Deli and Wine Bar - Meatballs and fries - Delis Near Me - Encinitas, California

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Best chicken caesar sandwich ever. The cutlet was perfectly crispy, and they put a perfect amount of dressing where the sandwich isn't soggy. Also, everyone there was super friendly. When back in town we will definitely be stopping again. read more

Waited a long time for Ernie's to open, as it's nearby my house! Talk about a deli! The sandwiches are bomb! Wine selection is fantastic (they even have a wine club) and the ambience and decor is on point (even down the bathroom)! My favorite sandwich is hands down the Chicken Caesar Salad sandwich (which can also be made into a salad). I also tried the meatball sub which was delicious. Sides are great as well (try the Mac salad!). Sundays they are now offering a smash burger deal for $20, burger, fries and a pint! Had the pleasure of chatting with owner Dave, and he filled me in on the story behind the name of the place and their vision. All the staff is super nice; Katie is a great and personable bartender! They also have killer ice cream sandwiches. Also try the Bam sauce! read more

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This spot is such a gem! Delicious food and wine, and a great vibe. Will definitely be back!

Ernie's Deli is a great addition to Encinitas. Great place for adults and kids. Full wine and beer to accompany your deli sandwich. Service is on par! Ambiance is clean! Menu on the wall was very hard to read. Pick up a menu and you're good to go! Sandwiches are pricey for the value and portion side. I would still recommend this as a good sandwich shop. Taste is good and there is a television for those who are sports fanatics! read more

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I walked here while waiting for my car getting serviced. What a super cute diner, decorated like from the 1970s. I loved the vibe here and would love to come back for the wine another time. I ordered the Carl which has pastrami in it. Now usually I can't stand baguettes that a hard and crunchy. I don't like crunchy sandwiches. To my surprise this was nice and soft. The meat to veggies ratio was perfect. Truly a delicious sandwich. I loved every bite. I would love to come back and see their other menu in the evening. What a great spot! Also, the service was excellent 5 stars for that alone! read more

Ernie's Craft Deli and Wine Bar - The Carl - Delis Near Me - Encinitas, California

Delicious and unique sandwiches. Killer service and vibes. I adore this place. The chic Caesar Sammie is my fav also love the broccoli provolone Sammie read more

Ernie's Craft Deli and Wine Bar - Delicious sandwiches-so unique!!!!! - Delis Near Me - Encinitas, California

Such a great addition to this specific area of Encinitas. Walk up to order, they have variety of amazing sandwiches. Items come out as they are ready. We tried the Dutch style bread (extra crispy and a few extra $) got a meatball sub as well as the chicken Caesar sandwich, SO good! Got a side of mac salad, wouldn't have that again. Needed some sliced red onions in it or something to give it more of a crunch. Had 6 oz of chilled red as well as a side of french fries. The sandwiches were really good, chicken was perfectly done and all very fresh ingredients. Can't wait to go back to try more menu items! read more

Finally a deli in San Diego that lives up to all the hype! Ernie's is tucked away in a shopping center but between their quick service even during the busy lunch rush to the homemade and epic Dutch crunch, this place is my new favorite sandwich in San Diego! We got the cranberry turkey sandwich and it was perfectly seasoned and had the proper ratio of ingredients read more

Ernie's Craft Deli and Wine Bar - Turkey cran sandwich on Dutch crunch - Delis Near Me - Encinitas, California

Crispy chicken ceasar sandwich $16.99 had lots of flavor, meatball sub $17.99 & saice was good, bread was on the larger size & could have used a bit more protein, popular place, will try ckn parm sandwich next time read more

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This place is hands down the best hidden gem our town has been given. Since discovering it, I've been coming back weekly -- and somehow every single visit makes me fall in love with it even more. I've been on a serious hunt for the best chicken Caesar salad combo, and Ernie's officially takes the top spot. Everything is consistently fresh, flavorful, and clearly made with care. And whatever you do, don't leave without grabbing a cookie... actually, get two. You'll regret only ordering one. What really sets this place apart is the atmosphere. The owner is almost always there and genuinely connects with customers, which creates such a welcoming, community-driven vibe. It's the kind of spot where locals run into friends or end up making new ones at the bar. They're constantly improving and raising the bar, and it truly feels like exactly what this town needed -- incredible, high-quality food without the overly trendy gimmicks. If you haven't tried Ernie's yet, you're seriously missing out. This is a MUST visit. read more

Ernie's Craft Deli and Wine Bar - chicken cesar salad sandwich on dutch crunch bread. - Delis Near Me - Encinitas, California

I got the chicken crispy Caesar and added bacon on the Dutch crunch and wow. This is one of the best sandwiches I have had in a long time. We got them to go but the atmosphere is also really cute! Highly recommend! read more

Ernie's Craft Deli and Wine Bar - Crispy chicken Caesar - Delis Near Me - Encinitas, California

Great sandwich and bread. Got two crispy chicken caesar sandwiches. One on normal bread one on Dutch crunch, both delicious.

I don't understand the rave reviews for this place. My husband and I went last week and shared a sandwich and were so disappointed. It had so much bread you could hardly get it in your mouth. I finally gave up and took half of the bread off. Not a lot of meat and cheese either. It was sooooo noisy inside there's no way you could have a conversation so we sat outside in the parking lot. Not very appealing. Sorry, I wanted to support these local owners but will never go back. Jersey Mikes sandwiches are fabulous and that's where I'll be going when I want a great lunch. read more

Cute sandwich shop in Enci with very nice staff. We loved the truffle broccoli and the caprese sandwiches. Really tasty and the breads were so fresh. The fries were also cooked perfectly. Will definitely come back! read more

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A very nice place for a glass of wine and a light dinner. The wine selection is excellent and the meatballs were delicious, nicely presented with delicious toasted foccacia bread. The service was especially friendly and warm with the server very enthusiastic about the food. The deli part is aparently for daytime hours while the wine bar with a selection of salads, burgers, and other dishes more for the evening. read more

What a great Yelp surprise! My wife and I love delis and trying new places and finding Ernie's was a great experience. Ernie's is tucked away in strip mall but as soon as you enter the decor just lets you know that that you're in for delicious and welcoming time. The restaurant itself is decorated in a way that rides the line between a family restaurant and New York deli. With an amazing menu of sandwiches made with quality ingredients on your choice of a traditional French roll or fantastic crunch roll. If you're a wine drinker they have an extensive selection and a few local beers on tap. The staff truly appreciate their costumers and will make recommendations and answer any questions you might have. I had the Italian Sandwich and my wife had the Meatball Sandwich. Both sandwiches came out quick and were delightful. I had a side of the macsalad which was good but a bit too tangy for my tastes. And I do wish they had fountain drinks. Oh and I can't finish this review without mentioning their "best cookie ever" which lives up to the name. read more

Ernie's Craft Deli and Wine Bar - Delis Near Me - Encinitas, California

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Honestly, attempted to come here twice because the first time the deli was closed. Was super excited to come here the second time, especially for the Dutch crunch bread, but it didn't live up to the hype. The sandwich didn't taste fresh. The bread was stale. The chicken was oily and dry. The flavor just wasn't there. The aesthetic of the place looks awesome though. Wish it was better! read more

I had heard really good things about this place, especially having gluten-free bread, so we came for dinner but didn't realize they have a different dinner menu and serve sliders instead of sandwiches. The sliders were very small for the price. My husband enjoyed his gluten free sliders and the GF bread/ biscuit they used was one of the best I've tasted, but the caesar sliders were not it, the bread seemed old and they only had a sliver of dry, not crispy fried chicken on each slider. Sounds like lunch is way better here, but we probably won't be back. read more

We stopped into this new spot in Encinitas and instantly loved the warm, cozy, vintage vibes. It feels like a place you can settle into with family or friends and just have a genuinely good time. We ordered the fries and The Carl (the pastrami sando) both were delicious and enjoyed a few glasses of wine. Drinks came out quickly, the food followed fast, and everything was super fresh and flavorful. Overall, such a fun, welcoming atmosphere with great service and great food. Perfect for a casual night out or an easy weekend bite. Highly recommend! read more

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I am thrilled to have the very busy, buzzy, nicely decorated Ernie's in Encinitas. The owner and all of the staff are friendly and care! I'm happy because any sandwich can be made into a salad, and they have wine! I find the 6 oz glass to be a bit overpriced, but it doesn't stop me from ordering it. read more

Obsessed with this place! I love their Caesar sandwich and their chocolate chip cookies, both are incredible every time. Everything tastes super fresh, the quality is always consistent, and you can tell they really care about what they're serving. Definitely one of those spots you keep coming back to because it never disappoints!!! read more

AMAZING!! Great food,service and the ambiance is comfortable with elegant and comfortable feel!

Love this place! Great service, wine, charcuterie and ambience. I got the broccoli sliders with the gluten free bun and the bun has me worried as it's hard to tell that it's really gluten free+ read more

Ernie's Craft Deli and Wine Bar - Broccoli slider on gluten free(?) Bun - Delis Near Me - Encinitas, California

I came here for dinner with my daughter and we've decided this place deserves 5 1/2 stars! She says it's so awesome and has great customer service! We've decided these are the best meatballs in Encinitas! I said it. Don't sleep on this place. On Friday night there's live music and a great vibe. Can't wait to come back and do some wine tasting! read more

Social Media Reviews: 10 plus/In-house Dining Experience:: 2 As a retired Corporate Product Development Chef for a major U.S. food corporation, I consider myself a fair judge of culinary standards in the food business. My dining experience at Ernie's Craft Deli was a major disappointment as my 'Carl' sandwich did not have any flavor close to resembling Pastrami and my wife's Turkey sandwich was not as good as "Jersey Mike's". It seems that many diners have lost all sense of taste and accept average food. Service was great and all employees are very attentive and helpful. Because of this restaurant being very popular, seating is hard to find even though there are tables inside and outside. We will not return to this food establishment again as there are better dining options available and I believe in spending my money on quality food. read more

Phenomenal! Crispy chicken Cesar sandwich, will definitely be back to try other sandwiches on their menu. I will say bummed the deli closes at 3! read more

Ernie's Craft Deli and Wine Bar - Chicken Cesar sando - Delis Near Me - Encinitas, California

Loved the vibe and the service. Food was delicious! Approachable enough to bring kids but still feels like eating out.

These sandwiches are huge with fluffy, crispy bread! Super yummy. Love the ambiance and ability to grab a quick sandwich but also has sit down, including the living room, especially when we return for a glass of wine after work. Love the employees and family feel. Don't sleep on this place!! read more

Came in today and was very happy. The good: -The flavors are unique! Even at non-chain restaurants, many still taste formulaic. This place was not at all formulaic! -I asked for some sauces on the side, for my to go order, just incase my son didn't like them on his sandwich. They forgot to put them in my bag so I went back in and they gave my son a free soda. -speaking free soda, try the cream soda. Amazing! -The Caesar salad-this is seriously the best Caesar dressing I have ever had. I ordered the sandwich as a salad, so you replace the kale with romaine. Really good! -The crispy chicken in the Caesar salad was fabulous! I am a NYer and this is what we call "chicken cutlets" as our Italian grandmothers made. -I didn't have it, but I bet, based on the chicken cutlet, that the chicken parm sandwich will be great. -The sandwiches were very good. We got a build your own and a curried chicken. The curried chicken was mine. This was good, but in all honesty I like my curried chicken salad better (but let the reader be informed, I am a really good cook). -The bam sauce. Get it to dip your fries. We didn't have fries, but it would be so good! -the cookies. So good. -the staff. So friendly -there is ample seating The bad: -they put onion straws on the Caesar salad that are amazing. The bad is that they don't sell them as a side. Owner-please sell them as a side! read more

Came here to check the place out and were disappointed to learn they were out of 2 of their best sandwich breads. We ended up getting the chicken caesar on some kind of roll I can't remember the name of. It was their last option. Also got a smash burger. Have to say I can't imagine our order being any better with their 2 primary bread options because our food was outstanding. By far, the best restaurant experience I have had in a while. The flavor of everything was new, fresh and fun. Already looking forward to my next visit. read more

Cute spot, nice selection of wines, smaller selection of beer on tap, fun food options for sharing. I look forward to returning! They have a wine club option too! Nice to see they are doing well in this not so easy to see from El Camino location. read more

Great service and wine. Have had the charcuterie board and it was top notch. Look forward to this establishment becoming a staple in the community. read more