After a nice date with my wife and shopping for some gifts, we finally decided to stop by Carruth…read moreCellars. We went with the wine tasting flight and it was a great way to explore their lineup. I usually go for the Zinfandel, but this time the Sauvignon Blanc ended up being my favorite--bright, crisp, and super refreshing. The Rosé, "Unicorn," Zinfandel, and Cabernet all brought their own solid character too, from light and fruity to rich and structured. Perfect spot in Cedros Design District to grab a glass, relax on the front patio, and people watch after walking the shops. Super chill coastal vibe, friendly service.

Carruth Cellars is a tucked‑away barn‑style winery with a walk‑up counter and a casual "sit…read morewherever you want" setup. The vibe is relaxed, but overall the experience felt pretty average. Prices are on the steeper side, and the wine itself was just okay. No one really checks in on you, so the service leans very hands‑off. Water is self‑serve, and they have a few small snacks you can grab and pay for, but nothing that stands out. A simple, no‑frills stop -- nothing special, but fine if you're already in the area and want a quick glass.

Postino has always been our go-to for a nice lunch and stellar drinks. When we moved back to San…read moreDiego my husband and I were happy to see Postino was right down the road in Del Mar at One Paseo. I feel as though I can't say enough about the quality and consistency of their menu. Every time, we're greeted and seated immediately. It's always such a welcoming atmosphere (even when we bring our kids along from time to time) and I appreciate how efficient the staff is. Our popular choices are always the assorted bruschettas - I love that they switch up to offer new flavors and seasonal ingredients. Drinks and cocktails are always spot on. Couldn't recommend this location more for anyone who's looking for an enjoyable bite!

I've been wanting to try this place for a while now after I kept seeing the aesthetic bruschetta…read moreboards, so I'm really glad I finally got the chance to come! I obviously had to get the bruschetta board which comes with 4 different options. They had a philly cheesesteak chef special that day and it was definitely my favorite. The burrata bacon arugula tomato one was also really tasty, but I thought the mozzarella tomato basil and the smoked salmon and pesto ones fell a little short for me. I also got the half panini and half salad combo which I was very excited to see on the menu because I wanted to try so many different things! I got the caesar salad and the prosciutto & brie sando. It was good! I liked how the fig jam added sweetness to the prosciutto sandwich, but I wish they used less because it was a little too sweet. Great vibes inside too, and servers were nice!

Stopped in Local Roots one early evening for some sushi and kombucha. A bit of a strange mix, but…read morehey I like both things so why not. One wall is fully open which is nice for fresh air and light, and the inside has a very casual vibe. Loved the kombucha (both hard and non-alcoholic) though sadly did not take a picture of it. I thought the sushi and edamame were both just okay. The rolls were a 3/5 in my opinion (a bit bland and pricey at $19/roll), and I wasn't a fan of the edamame (a little overcooked and didn't love the sauce). However, my boyfriend loved the edamame sauce, so I guess to each their own. Ultimately, I'd come back for the kombucha but would look elsewhere if I wanted sushi.

Great local spot. Good sushi. Pet friendly which is a plus plus. Good table service and they have a…read moreyummy pineapple hard tea. Ambiance is casual and very local.

I recently visited Solana Beach Kitchen and honestly had such a great experience that I had to…read moreshare. From the moment we arrived, the service really stood out. The manager, Andrea, along with Tara, took amazing care of me and my friends. They were attentive without being overbearing, super friendly, and made us feel genuinely welcome the whole time, which is something you don't always get. I ordered an Aperol Spritz, (if you ever ordered, please get it with campari. we also got a margarita, both were perfectly made. The spritz was refreshing and well-balanced, and the margarita was just as good, not too sweet and really smooth. Definitely a great start to the night. The food was just as impressive. Everything came out surprisingly fast, especially considering how good it was. You can tell there's real attention to quality and flavor. The ambiance is another highlight. It has this relaxed, chill vibe but still feels put together and a little bit "cute" in the best way. It's the kind of place that works perfectly whether you're going on a date, catching up with friends, or just want a nice casual dinner without it feeling basic. Overall, great service, delicious food, quick turnaround, and a really enjoyable atmosphere. I'll definitely be coming back

Tried SB Kitchen for lunch. Sat outside under an umbrella. Plenty of parking during lunch and the…read moreshopping center this is part of had a parking garage at the back. Service was okay. I had to remind the waitress I hadn't gotten my drink and had to ask for the check at the end. The food was just okay. I got the Hot Chick chicken sandwich and my friend got the classic burger and we split them. Neither had much flavor, which really surprised me with the chicken sandwich as it's supposed to be Cajun spiced. We both paid the extra $4 to change the fries to truffle fries. That had the most flavor of anything.

Wow, we had a great meal from start to finish! Our server was so nice and on top of it! Our water…read morecups were never empty and she made sure everything went smoothly. The fresh pasta is CHEF's KISS. We really loved how chewy they were. I am a sucker for passion fruit so the passion fruit curd pavlova really was the cherry on top for our meal. We'll be back!

I'm shocked this place doesn't have a higher rating…read more Service is TOP notch, atmosphere is wonderful, and food is yummy! Funny enough - my fiancée and I have been her three times and have sat in the same booth all three times. The Manager noticed this time and went out of his way to mark it for all future reservations.. so kind! The Foccacia is heavenly! Exhibit A - we both ordered our own share of Foccacia. No need to fight over the last piece. Ha!

Freshly arrived and checked in to our hotel in Del Mar, we asked the front desk for a…read morerecommendation and she said this was a good upscale sports bar. I saw I had already bookmarked it for their highly rated fish and chips, and it was only half a mile away so we decided to walk. It was a beautiful walk along the beach, surfers everywhere reminded me of my college days at UCSD and how big the surfing culture is here. After we passed the train tracks we took a left and had a quarter mile walk straight up the hill! It was definitely a tough little hike for us out of shapers, but it was just enough to get some exercise and work up our appetites and thirst. We put our name down for window seats and stood at the bar while watching the NBA finals. We ordered a couple aperol spritz and were throughly enjoying the vibe and view. Everyone here was super friendly, great customer service and was surprised to see how packed it was late afternoon on a Tuesday. Our server later told us it's like that every night. We had to wait about 15-20 mins for our table but we were fine, then got seated right by the window. The view was amazing, drinks were strong, and some excellent fish and chips and appetizers. The bar even gave a little speech, where the bartender read a poem, apparently a nightly tradition. Cool touch. Great place for families, groups or couples. Recommend!

Dear Senior Management Team,…read more My family I visited Monarch Ocean Pub on mother day, expecting to have a pleasant experience. Unfortunately, we were very disappointed by the behavior of one of your managers, Hope. My mother was on the phone with my sister through FaceTime, simply talking and enjoying herself. Hope approached my mother in a very aggressive and unprofessional manner, standing extremely close to her and angrily telling her to hang up the phone and stop recording, even though my mother was not recording anyone. I tried to explain that my mother does not speak English very well, but instead of handling the situation professionally, Hope accused me of being rude, told us to leave, and threatened to call the police. Her behavior made both my mother and me feel very upset, uncomfortable, and unwelcome. She also stood very close to us and made physical contact by touching me, which made me feel extremely uncomfortable. No customer should be treated this way. We came to your business hoping to enjoy ourselves and receive good service, but instead we experienced rude, aggressive, and unacceptable treatment from a manager. I hope senior management will address this situation seriously so that no other customers have to go through the same experience. Because of this incident, we do not feel comfortable returning to that location.

Great little local pizza shop right by the beach. It's a little small inside but there is also…read moreoutdoor seating. We got our pizzas to go and walked down to the beach, which is just a block away. Very friendly staff and they were super quick even though there were a lot of customers there at that time. They only have one "white" pizza (which is my favorite. It was a veggie white pizza and it was very good! My daughter got the sausage pizza. It's a thin crust, light and crispy.. exactly how I like it.

I am finally breaking down and writing this review, as I am brokenhearted about how Sbicca is no…read morelonger the experience it used to be. This was my wife and I's second visit since the change in ownership, and the first time we forgave them thinking they would get it together. But we did wait a couple of years before we came back. So I made a reservation on a Saturday evening at 6 and we arrived on time. The table we were offered was a very small 2 seat right at the host podium, on the patio. Looked pretty quiet so I was a little disappointed, but ok. So the evening starts ok, we get our drink order in and an app. Just after our wine came they said sorry, can we take your table? They were rearranging for a large group expected later. So we held everything in our hands or laps while they dragged our table away. Good news is they brought a slightly larger one. Ok, still hanging in there. But now for the next 20 minutes they are dragging solar heaters around, moving tables, and in the process, ignoring us because they have all this to do. But our dinner eventually comes and the rearranging is done, but the large party starts to arrive. Turns out, of course, our server was their server. So things slowed WAY down for us but we did get a dessert order in, which was to be accompanied by a glass of port we were to share. After 10 minutes the dessert came and the server clarified with us we only wanted one glass. Affirmed. They disappear for 20 minutes to serve the big group. So our dessert included ice cream, it's starting to melt, we are trying to hang on...and after all this time our server comes over to tell us they are out of port. Now we're 30 minutes plus after ordering, that's pretty bad. So now we eat our dessert, really not enjoying it because of the service. Finally, waiting for our check, the owner comes over. It's been almost an hour since our dessert order. He apologizes profusely that there was a misunderstanding...they do have port...then with a flourish he produces a glass and says it's on the house. We would have sent it back but I think we were a little shocked at unaware he was Tone deaf to the situation. Three hours. $350. Miserable experience. Goodbye Sbicca, we miss the old.

THE KRAKEN @ CARDIFF…read more Parking is available right out front, but you can also walk here if you're nearby. My friends and I tried walking from State Beach in Encinitas, it was about a 13-minute walk, but I wouldn't recommend it. The path smelled pretty bad, likely because of the seals and trash in the area. Once we arrived, we were quickly settled in. The restroom was clean and decent, and we loved how spacious the place felt. There's a nice outdoor area where people can hang out and drink, as well as an indoor section with a pool table. We tried some of their margaritas, which were absolutely delicious, and really enjoyed the ambiance. The staff was friendly, the service was great, and the overall vibe made it a fun spot to visit. Once inside, you don't notice the outdoor smell, so that's a plus. I'd definitely stop by again.

Good: It's a decent bar during the day time: You can actually talk to people and easily get a…read moredrink. You can see the ocean and the vibe is chill. Bad: It's a terrible bar on the weekends. Sure, sometimes there is good live music, but it's hard to get a drink, it's packed full of a-holes, the staff is also overwhelmed a-holes, and there's no view. But it's sometimes full of cougars though for the Marines, good luck boys.