I think the best way to start this review is to be honest about my obsession and the chokehold this place has on me. It's borderline unhealthy at this point. I can't seem to stay away. LOL. No but seriously, I am completely and utterly in-love with this place. I am a huge sandwich person but so I am particular about where I go. Has to ya know, check alllll the boxes etc. Ernie's has stolen my sammy-heart. I believe I've had every single sandwich on the menu at this point and I enjoyed every single one of them. If I HAD to choose my favorite sandwich, they would be these: -Italian on Dutch crunch roll -Crispy chicken caesar on Dutch crunch roll -Curry chicken salad on focaccia -Tuna on sourdough ( always add the hot pepper salad) *I love the dutch crunch roll for any of the sandwiches but the focaccia also steals the show quite often. I've been here for dinner as well and my recommendations would be: -Charcuterie board -Bruschetta boards ( you pick 2) but my faves are the prosciutto one (the prosciutto is chopped up super small so it's perfect and not all stringy like it can be at times) which comes with mascarpone, pistachios, arugula and lemon curd. My other fave is the brie, green apple with honey and sea salt. Another thing to mention is I'm not a huge brie person BUT I adore it if it's triple cream brie. This my friends, is triple cream so it's fantastic. -The fries are also fantastic and the chocolate chip cookies are fire. I'm not even a sweets person but I inhaled it when I tried it. It was delish. -Italian chopped salad- so good and really light but somehow filling at the same time. In the best way possible. I get it all the time. They have a huge wine selection both at the bar and in their fridge section which you can browse while you're in line. They have a wine club as well! I always love a more local mom n pop type place in general vs chains and this place is just a vibe no matter what time of day you go. The word is definitely out though so it can get busy so cozy up at the bar for a cold one while you wait if you run thirsty like me, ha! Or they have plenty of outdoor seating if you want a ni ce breeze. The owner is rad, the entire staff is sweet, accommodating and overall they just absolutely nailed it here. Go see what all the hype is about, you'll leave with a full belly and a smile. read more

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A friend and I came here for wine after we had eaten somewhere else a few months ago. This time we came solely for the food.. It was a late afternoon lunch, and we sat at the counter both times. I ordered the Turkey club and just had water. She had a different sandwich and a glass of wine. The older woman helping us had a few issues with the computer and had to get help a few times. We were served pretty quickly once she was able to get the help she needed. We both enjoyed our sandwiches. And she enjoyed her wine. We have enjoyed all the wines we've tried. The Dutch crunch was close to what I remember eating whilst growing up in Northern California. We both agreed we'd come back and try more menu items and wines. read more

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

Kael provided great service. Very cute restaurant, inside was welcoming and cool. I sat outside. Chopped Italian salad- overall delicious, I will say I like mine a bit more chopped but the flavor and ingredients were so fresh and bright. Pastrami sliders- shut your mouth so good- savory, cheesy, salty, yum yum yum! read more

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

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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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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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I've been here twice now, once with my husband for a light dinner, and most recently with my son for lunch. Both times were enjoyable, which is why I keep coming back. It's a quiet place, good for conversation, and they have unique wines (first time seeing orange wine) and a reliable sandwich lineup. My son liked the dutch crunch bread that came with his sandwich, and my french roll was soft, too. I know there are many sandwich shops around, so the option to have beer or wine levels up this place to me. Glad to have this here. 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

The food is really fresh and delicious. The staff have opinions and are happy to share. The location is bright and clean. The alcoholic drinks are tasty too. 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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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

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

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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Have been back twice, once with a large group after a nearby concert for dinner and yesterday for lunch. Everyone loved the food and service. Both times the food excelled for quality ingredients, imaginative recipes, all served friendly service. We are mostly foodies and are appreciative of a place that serves casual food that's better than home made. Apparently others agree because it's always been busy on our visits. read more

The crispy chicken caesar sandwich is good, yes... BUT the broccoli truffle sandwich truly sent me into orbit. The perfectly toasty bread and jammy caramelized onions took it to a whole other level! read more

The food is great, and the service is great as well. It's nice to have such a quality place in our local community.

Fun, fresh ambience, great, helpful, friendly staff, and delicious food! The music was a bit loud for Family discussion across the table. We sat outside, but I think it was the same volume inside. read more

I met a work colleague here during the week for lunch. By noon it was very crowded but you order at the counter so there wasn't a big wait. All the sandwiches sound really delicious. I ordered the curry chicken salad sandwich and while it was good, it wasn't necessarily my favorite. I chalk that up to ordering incorrectly. I will definitely go back and try a different sandwich. The location itself is bright and airy and lent itself to being kind of a old school diner or even a Parisian deli so cute and simple. read more

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

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

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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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

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

???? 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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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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Curry was outstanding! The bread is so fresh and curry was bold and flavorful. Can't wait for more. 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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Oh my goodness! What a fun little neighborhood find! Not only is the wine selection great and the casual food options over-the-top quality, but although this was our first visit, we felt immediately connected not only to the staff, but to the other customers with whom we engaged in conversation! We will be back! Shhh! Don't tell anyone! Perhaps we should keep this little secret to ourselves! Not really! Spread the word and support this wonderful family business! ‼ read more

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

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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My friend and I came in today and got The Whole Shebang Sandwich and the Italian Sandwich. Both sandwiches were great. Portion size was great and reasonable for the price. Service was fast and staff were nice. Beautiful interior decoration and style. Very Cool! Definitely a spot to come back to! read more

I went in for lunch yesterday for the first time. My sandwich was very tasty. I got the crispy chicken Caesar sandwich. The portion felt very generous and I loved how soft the bread was. Overall, the atmosphere was a little off for me. I felt like the restaurant was a little cluttered with stuff and too eclectic. There were too many different patterns on the walls. It was fine for a deli lunch, but I couldn't imagine coming back for a wine happy hour or dinner to hang out for longer periods of time. read more

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

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 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 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

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

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

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

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