Came here for the WWE: War Games - Jaycation special. It was pretty cool. Here was our experience. AMBIANCE Parking: Downtown/East Village vibes--street parking if you're lucky, otherwise nearby lots. Seating: Plenty of space--indoor seating plus an outdoor patio/backyard area. Bigger than it looks and great for groups. Vibes: Welcome to the famous Gaslamp area of San Diego! You get the lovely convention center, Petco Park, and all the downtown vibes. The spot itself gave it a nice neighborly gastropub energy with a lively twist. TVs for the games, a game area (darts/shuffleboard), and a crowd that's there to socialize. It feels like a social hub--whether you're pregaming, catching a game, or just kicking back with friends. FOOD / DRINKS Jaycation Gin Cherry **Event Special** (Recommend) Storyhouse Gin, Black Cherry, and Lemon. Super refreshing. You get that light botanical note from the gin balanced with the sweetness of black cherry and a citrusy kick from the lemon. Smooth, easy to drink, and honestly a solid choice if you don't want something too heavy. SERVICE: Friendly and efficient. Staff kept things moving even as it got busy. TL;DR OVERALL 4 Stars. Good food, strong drink options, and a fun, social atmosphere. All in all, a nice Great East Village hangout.Whether you're linking with friends or starting your night out, this is a reliable go-to. TIPS *Check out their drink specials--easy win read more

Knotty Barrel - Wooo!!! - Gastropubs Near Me - San Diego, California

I can't think of anything I don't like about Knotty Barrel! I've been several times and always received good service. I've had the burger, the steak sandwich, and the wings are all very good. The beer selection rocks too and has a wide variety of styles. I'm a big fan of blind pig ipa that they have often. I'd recommend this place to anyone downtown looking for a beer or a bite in the gaslamp! read more

Excellent tap selection in East Village. On my recent visit they had just tapped a keg of Pliney the Elder, my favorite IPA, so I was in heaven. Our bartender Colin was super friendly and quick too. It was a game day so it was pretty busy, by 3pm it was packed. I love the laid back neighborhood vibe, just a really comfortable bar. Oh, we also shared a hot pretzel with beer cheese, so good! Could have drank it from the bowl. Haha! But I showed some restraint and only fantasized that big back activity. Great place for a beer, a cocktail and a bite. Still the best fish and chips in the village. read more

See all

A quick search for some pubs that offer St. Patty's day drinks and food, yielded Knotty Barrel in Downtown. Conveniently close to the parking garage that I usually park at, this place was close enough to Gaslamp but far enough from the crowds. The ambiance is your typically dive bar with multiple TV screens showcasing March madness on a Saturday afternoon. Waitress was nice but only brought one water instead of bringing water for everyone in the table. I guess you have to be specific. Of course I ordered the St. Patty's Day Special, which was the Stout Braised Corned Beef Reuben (on rye bread) and a green margarita rimmed with Tajin. Marg was delicious! I ordered two! The sandwich was hearty and the meat flavorful. I upgraded my side to Parmesan Garlic fries and these were super crisp with the right amount of seasoning. I also tried the Rosemary Tater Tots, these were fried perfectly and were not too oily. Price point is reasonable. Definitely a solid place to get some good bar food and watch some sports! I would definitely come back again! read more

See all

Came for happy hour and it was our first time here. The place is very spacious. There is outside and inside seating. We live down the street and didn't have to look for parking cause we walked. It seems like they were short staff the day we came because it took a little while for someone to take our order. We ordered a single smash burger and a double smash burger with fries. I'll start with the fries! Cause they were actually good. I thought it was going to be overcooked but it was perfect. I do want to say the burgers didn't taste like a smash burger. It tasted like a beef patty. Super thick and not smashed. That I didn't like. Super cool thing on the menu: deep fried twinkies! I never had deep fried twinkies before and this did not disappoint. If I came back for anything it would be for this read more

Knotty Barrel - Gastropubs Near Me - San Diego, California

See all

This spot has been a go to for a nightcap after a padres game and the staff is always great. We came in and it was still pretty busy but we were able to grab 2 seats at the bar and enjoy a drink. Robbie was behind the bar and killing it making drinks for all of the late night customers coming in. We go to the PQ location frequently so it was nice to come into the downtown location since it has been awhile. It wasn't open this time because of it being late but they do have a wonderful outside patio with fire pits and heaters so it is perfect to enjoy when it is open. Overall I love the variety of food and drinks this spot has and have always had a great time when stopping in. read more

A lot of businesses run out of steam after being open for many years, but not Knotty Barrel. I came by two different times on a recent trip back to San Diego and both times the service and food were as good as I had remembered. It is still San Diego's version of Cheer's, the friendly and fun neighborhood pub. I ran into old friends and played darts while enjoying some non-alcoholic cocktails and food. Their grilled cheese is seriously the best, along with their chicken strips, and new smash burger. I also love their protein bowl and ahi stack when I want a healthier option. They are still getting it right and I will continue to come back during every visit to San Diego. read more

See all

Been coming to Knotty since I moved here in 2017. It quickly became a second home. It's a NY Giants bar on Sundays and as a NY transplant, it definitely helped my transition. The staff and owners have become a second family over the years. You wouldn't think bar food is anything special, but i have never had a bad meal at Knotty!! Their chicken strips and steak sandwich are my favorites read more

Knotty Barrel - Chicken strips - Gastropubs Near Me - San Diego, California

See all

This was a fun little pub. The staff were terrific. The wait staff was so friendly and accommodating. We opted for their fish and chips. The fish was very good and the portions were quite generous. Their fries were not too bad. What really stood out for us was their Caesar salad. It was a little tart. But it was very good. It is casual and fun. It was a bit noisy the night we were there. But you can tell it is a neighborhood kind of place. Seriously, you cannot go wrong. Between the prices, the generous food portions, and the congeniality of the wait staff it is a good place to rest your bones. read more

Watched a football game here recently with friends. We ubered so didn't have to stress about parking. QR code menus. Overall I had a great time there and the food and drink were great. Service was good. Casual environment. I would come back again when visiting San Diego. read more

Knotty Barrel - Menu QR codes - Gastropubs Near Me - San Diego, California

See all

We go into Knotty Barrel at least once a week. Everything on their menu is so good! We love sharing the poke stack. Delicious! Wine Thursdays 50% off bottles. All of the employees are EXCELLENT! Last night we had one we haven't had before it was Erin. Wow! She was behind the bar and they had a few large parties come in. We've never seen a bartender move so fast. It was crazy but she always had a smile on her face. Great customer service! read more

Been so many times and really thought I put a review. Food is always great. $7 happy hour smash burgers. Yes please! The chicken salad is a fresh choice loaded with salad toppings. Love getting the potato chip nachos and adding buffalo chicken. Great place to watch sports or hang and chat. read more

Knotty Barrel - Southwestern Chicken Salad - Gastropubs Near Me - San Diego, California

See all

I finally got to attend my first Padres baseball game of the season, but before we walked to Petco Park, my best friends wanted to pre party before the game. One of my best friends recommended Knotty Barrel and I trusted his choice because he hasn't let me down yet when it comes to selecting restaurants that serve delectable food. I was so hungry that I couldn't wait for the grub to come out. My buddies are beer drinkers and I'm a foodie, so Knotty Barrel was the perfect Padres pre party restaurant for incredible food, refreshing drinks, and a good vibe. When my buddy mentioned Knotty Barrel, the name was familiar to me because there's a Knotty Barrel in Rancho Peñasquitos, so it's a small chain restaurant with a location in North County San Diego and this location we visited in Downtown San Diego. This was my first time visiting a Knotty Barrel and for this East Village location, it's a short walk to Petco Park, so it's an ideal pre party location. My buddy parked at the 4th Avenue parking garage and the 6th and K parking garage isn't too far, which means paid parking is your option. The restaurant is on the corner of Market Street and Ninth Avenue. It is across the street from Lotus Thai and Modern Times Coffee, diagonal from Krisp, and opposite of Floyd's Barbershop. We got to Knotty Barrel a couple of hours before the ballgame, so the restaurant was packed with diners. There is bar seating, high top tables, booths, and outdoor seating. The restaurant is spacious; there are tvs mounted all around; there are sports teams banners, pennants, and other sports decor; I enjoyed reading the painted quotes around the restaurant; there are kegs manufactured into urinals; and the main focal point were wall displays of beer taps. Our server Maren was friendly and did her best to take care of our group, but I didn't think she checked on us as often as I would have liked, so I have to take off a half star. For me, Knotty Barrel's food was the star of the show, so if you're looking to satisfy your hunger and not have to worry about paying the exorbitant stadium prices for food, I suggest you do like my buddies and eat here before the game. I knew Knotty Barrel was going to serve some righteous food after I took my first sip of the Shirley Temple I ordered. When an establishment serves a refreshing and with the right amount of grenadine syrup Shirley Temple for a non alcoholic drinker like me, then I know that restaurant takes attention to detail seriously and it will be reflected in their food. Since we were going to a Padres game, we decided to order a bunch of appetizers. My buddies asked me to order the food, so I selected traditional Buffalo Knotty Wings, Potato Chip Nachos, Pretzel + Beer Cheese Dip, and Fried Pickles. Seriously and I'm not exaggerating, every appetizer was carefully prepared and they were tasty from the first bite. If I had to pick my faves, I thoroughly enjoyed the fried pickles and the potato chip nachos. The pickles were perfectly coated with cornmeal flour and were fried to just the right crispy crunch. Dipping them in the ranch was satisfying. The nachos had house-cut potato chips, blue cheese English cheddar, jalapeños, horseradish cream, and we added shredded chicken. Those nachos were yummy, hearty, and every component of that dish blended well with each other. The wings were savory and hearty. The pretzel was shareable and dipped really well with the beer cheese. After the appetizers, I decided to try their special of the day, which was a single smashburger. It was only $8, but that seriously was a tasty burger with the meat grilled to perfection, melted cheese, grilled onions, and toasted soft buns. I savored every bite and make sure to save room for this amazing burger. I left Knotty Barrel happily stuffed. Big ups once again to my longtime best friend for choosing a memorable eatery like Knotty Barrel. It was a blessed time breaking bread with my buddies eating delish food, chowing down on an amazing smashburger, washing the grub down with one of the better Shirley Temples in SD, and we were just a short walk from enjoying a Padres game together. read more

See all

This place was awesome , the perfect place to come and drink and eat something before a Padres game . The place was rocking, the service was fast and friendly, I had the meatball sandwich with fries and it was insanely good, I'd drive back all the way to San Diego for that thing ! I think this will be my spot from now on when I come for a Padres game or just the Gaslamp district , it was that good . read more

I went here with my friends for lunch today and wow this place is great!! It's located in a big parking lot so you don't have to worry about parking! It was my first time here and they have brunch type food including burgers, salad or sandwiches. Both my friends got the Knotty burger and you must try the chili lime sweet potato fries it might be on the sour side, but interesting and tasty. I got the grilled cheese sandwich with truffle fries which was awesome. The service was great and the ambiance is very casual and we sat outside because it was nice and sunny. Overall I would definitely recommend you to try this place with a group of friends or your family! read more

Knotty Barrel - Grilled cheese panini with truffle fries - Gastropubs Near Me - San Diego, California

See all

The bartender, Robby, is in the wrong business. There is absolutely nothing about him that says hospitality. I had dinner at the bar and Robby's service was ridiculously poor. If Robby went through any kind of training, he needs to go through it again. His re-training needs a heavy focus on the theory behind hospitality. Thankfully the sandwich I had was quite good. In this day and age with menu prices so high, service needs to outpace the pricing. High prices with poor service equals very low repeat business. Do better Knotty Barrel. read more

Had the carnitas sandwich last night. It is probably the most flavorful sandwich I have ever had. The tastes just explodes in your mouth. I paired with the truffle fries and they were great. The wait staff were fabulous considering we were a large group of senior citizens. So patient and pleasant. I can't imagine a better experience. You must try this place read more

Awesome place to spend a Sunday watching football. We had great service inside and then later on when we moved to the dog friendly patio. This is a Giants bar, so that game was featured, but they were happy to change screens later in the day for the game we were wanting to see. Enjoyed the two KB beers I had along with the breakfast and apps. read more

Our food was great. Our server was amazing and attentive. They had Pliny the elder! It's comic con weekend and we had a great time. read more

Knotty Barrel - Pliny the elder - Gastropubs Near Me - San Diego, California

Great place for happy hour. Good drinks, great food. Robby took care of us and he was awesome. It's bar spot so it's bar atmosphere. read more

Knotty Barrel - Knotty Burger and fries - Gastropubs Near Me - San Diego, California

The food was AAHMAZING! The chicken sandwich burger was the most delicious! It was so good that I didn't even take a drink of my tasty good Arnold Palmer! The service was great, I wish I had gotten her name. The atmosphere was alive. The bathrooms were clean. Tables were nice. Overall, I recommend this place. 10 out of 10! read more

Knotty Barrel has a great happy hour and is an awesome spot to meet up with friends for a quick bite and drinks. The vibe is laid back, and the menu has solid options for snacking. The house pickle back shots are a must and definitely a favorite. Always a good time here. read more

This 1 star review is NOT of Knotty Barrel but of simply 1 bartender. That person is: Robby Again, please, this review is not about Knotty Barrel. I've consistently raved about Knotty Barrel's great food, reasonable prices, fun atmosphere, and overall good vibe. However, this review is specifically about one employee: Robby. I've had five separate interactions with Robby. After the fourth, I even spoke with the manager/owner about his poor service. She assured me she would talk to him. Yet, after the fifth interaction, absolutely nothing has changed. Robby, you are hands down the worst bartender/server I have ever encountered. And I say that without hesitation. You are: * Rude * Dismissive * Full of unearned entitlement * Arrogant * Impatient * Unfriendly * Slow-paced * Unwelcoming Two particularly bad experiences stand out: 1. Placing My Order I placed my food order with you. You turned to the POS system and asked me a question about my order with your back turned to me. Since your back was to me, I couldn't hear you., and politely asked you to repeat your question. You became visibly frustrated, raised your voice, and repeated the question sarcastically--still without turning to face me. 2. Soda Water Incident I was at the bar on a quiet, non-game day--no more than ten people in the entire restaurant. I ordered a soda water and told you I needed a minute to decide on food. Five minutes later, you leaned aggressively across the bar, arms spread wide, glaring at me impatiently, not saying a word, as if to say, "Well? What do you want??" When I've talked to other Knotty Barrel regulars and staff about you, the common theme has been: "Yeah, that's just him. You have to get used to it." No. I do not have to "get used to" poor service, rude behavior, and dismissive conduct. Robby, it seems either you've been in the restaurant business for far too long, or you were never cut out for it in the first place. Either way, I suggest you find a new career. For me, it's simple: when I see you working, I immediately go somewhere else. If I'm already in Knotty and you come on shift, I close my tab and leave. I hope you, management, and ownership read this review with openness and genuine reflection. read more

Our monthly "New Places, Old friends" led us here... so good!! Loved the Potato Chip Nachos! We gave it a 10 for service, a 10 for atmosphere, and a 10 for flavor!! Everything we tried was really good!! read more

Fun local bar with a trendy divey feel, is a very fun place to grab some beers with friends and enjoy a trivia night! We also appreciated their selection of both alcoholic and non alcoholic drinks- no one in the group was left out. The service was friendly and quick- we appreciated our server being attentive. The food was good bar fare- hamburgers, salads, fried fish- but Id come here more for the drinks, ambiance and fun times! read more

Came after work for drinks and relaxing, this place is super nice at night time, specifically their outside section in the back! There are fireplaces and the vibes are on point. For food I got the buffalo chicken chips/nachos, which wasbl good! They make fresh potato chips and overall it was tasty. I also got the ocean beach cocktail with mezcal mango and pineapple which was on point. read more

Knotty Barrel - Potato chips nachos with Buffalo chicken - Gastropubs Near Me - San Diego, California

See all

Both the beer and menu selections are vast. Plus, they have mixed drinks too, some of which are pretty innovative. There is a game room, a nice outdoor patio, and lots of seating options in the main bar area which is lined with beer taps all along the walls. The BBQ sandwich is piled high with onion strings and served with both coleslaw and fries. There are several salad options and plenty of apps to share too. There is no free parking, but that seems standard for the area. Plus, if you go on the same day as a ball game, it is close enough to the stadium that you can pre-game - but that also means that you will pay more for parking. read more

See all

Pros: Good area near Petco, good drinks, and good food (that we got to try) They are dog friendly and have a good selection of drinks and food Sports bar feel Cons: We came to grab a drink and dinner on a Saturday night. While there, it became busier, naturally. Unfortunately, after an hour of waiting (I was drinking my beer and we had our appetizer), we found out our food was never entered into the system and the kitchen was already closed. We were left to find somewhere else to eat. Our server was very apologetic which was helpful but it didn't change that we had to find food all of a sudden after 10pm. Overall, I'd recommend the place. I can see the appeal and if I lived here, how nice it would be to come watch a game and hang out. read more

Nice and friendly service. Super fun to play the trivia. Good vibe, lots of people, so I would get there 15mins at least before trivia starts, which is 8pm on Thursday. Found free street parking about 3 blocks away so keep that in mind too. Food was good, but a bit overpriced (see images under menus) fried pickles cost more than the Caesar salad lol. We got the protein bowl, margherita flat bread and free refills on the pop. All good. Flatbread was very garlic-ly, but I like that :) Would recommend for a fun night out. read more

Went here w some coworkers. First and foremost, the chicken flautas are phenomenal. I've been to many Mexican restaurants and grew up with authentic Mexican food--these flautas are THE BEST. The food came out quick and everyone liked what they ordered. So, why 3 stars? The Server (older black man wearing a baseball cap)--super rude! My whole group just looked at each other when he'd snap back at anything. Keep in mind, we just got off work--no one was inebriated and only 2 of us even ordered a drink. We went for the food. How does this guy have a job??? We were so tired and annoyed with him that none of us had the energy to complain or ask for the manager. One of his retorts was "I didn't ask you that. I'm just doing food right now". WTH!!! We all work in service so none of us are jerks to service ppl. This guy needs therapy. To top it off, there was a man smoking on the sidewalk patio. Windows were open to the sidewalk so all his smoke just blew in on us. If you're going to check this place out and you see the server I described: don't. Order take out or something. Horrible!!! read more

Knotty Barrel is located in East Village, Downtown San Diego, on the corner of 9th and off Market, serving up some tasty draft beers and food in their fine establishment. I decided to come in on a Saturday right before 5 p.m., and they were fairly crowded with plenty of seats at the bar and booths open. I was just looking to have a nice cold one and nothing else, I stumbled across this place because of the Shiner Bock on draft. If you aren't familiar with this beer, I suggest you come down and try it because it will change your life! The beer has been brewed in Shiner, TX, since 1909, and to Texans like myself, this beer is everything but better. It's very hard to find Shiner in CA, but surprisingly, it's here. The bartender was nice and attentive and provided customer service with a smile and made sure I was good to go at all times. Although I didn't eat any food, the menu seemed very appetizing and delicious. The next time I come back for a Shiner, I will definitely go for the chicken pot pie since the person next to me chowed down on that, and all I could do was just stare and watch. Come out here for a nice time and great drinks, and also, if you are a NY Ranger Hockey fan, then this is your bar since they fly the flag outside during the season. Other than that this is a great place and I guarantee you that this bar will not disappoint!. read more

Knotty Barrel - Shiner Bock on tap - Gastropubs Near Me - San Diego, California

Went here for some food and drinks before the game and I was met with the rudest service. When I was ordering my drink and food at a table I asked my server for a glass of water and was told to go to the water station. I got up to go ask the bartender and was ignored while they were trying the new kombucha on tap. I was finally helped and asked for a glass of iced water and the male bartender with the bleached hair said to go to the water station and I repeated myself pointing at the glass of water next to me on the bar top saying I wanted a glass with ice and he said "umm like I said we have a water station" and walked away. I went back to my table and was in shock that a restaurant could not serve me water with my food. My server later came with 2 glasses of water which I didn't drink because what the hell?? I'm giving 2 stars for the cooks who made the food but other than that this place needs some better quality people working. I will not go back to this restaurant. read more

Quick service even though our waitress (with super short hair wearing a hat) was busy hustling to all the tables bc she was the only one I saw working. Super attentive and sweet! Good list of beer selections and had food options too. read more

Stopped in on a Sunday evening since our dinner reservations down the street were still 45 minutes away, so had a few minutes to kill. I wanted to grab a beer and catch up on Sunday night football and any highlights from the past couple few hours. The patio was huge and had a cool fire pit and it's own bar to the side. I ordered a house beer (16oz) and the sign said $6 pints on Sat / Sun which was good. I believe I got the blonde and it was not bad, just nothing to write home about. Was close to finishing my beer (definitely 16oz as I'm a pretty slow drinker and know my beer glasses) and so asked for the check. Guy came back and handed me the tablet to pay and it was $9 for some reason. Seeing how I was only the 2nd customer there I don't think it would be too hard to give decent customer service. But apparently they didn't care that much. Didn't get to try the food but looks good from what I could see so maybe worth trying. Would just be nice if they honor their own prices posted on the wall. Pro tip: There are at least half a dozen other sports bars with craft beers near 5th/6th if this one isn't to your liking. But if u need a large patio that's dog friendly and has fire pits this one's pretty cozy. read more

The ambiance is chill. Our hotel The Indigo also gave us a discount for this place, so definitely a plus!! read more

See all

I tried this place for the first time last week and MAN have I been missing out! I went to watch the game (lots of tvs) and lots of great beers on tap (including an awesome Black IPA). The staff was super welcoming and helpful which was refreshing because I needed help choosing between all the good food. I ended up getting a patty melt which was INCREDIBLE and the fries were bad either ;) I'll be back to start working my way down the menu. Thanks! read more

Knotty Barrel - Gastropubs Near Me - San Diego, California

We had our business holiday party at the Knotty Barrel. Great atmosphere and fantastic service. Food was good and there was plenty of it to feed our crowd. We had a private bar in the private patio area. Great location too. Just a couple blocks from parking structures. read more

Can't recommend anyone eat here. Food overpriced and not good. Service horrible. Probably won't be in business long. Save your money and eat elsewhere read more

The food here is incredible! It comes out quick and is fresh and super hot. Honestly, 15mins into my gosh and chips and fries, there was still steam coming off them. Not sure how they do it, but it was awesome! The fish was so tender and flavorful and the batter was very nice and crisp. My husband loved his steak sandwich. We each had a beer- I thought they were just okay. I wasn't impressed with the selection and they could've been colder. read more

Are you Knotty or Nice? Hahahahaha. Knotty Barrel is located downtown near the Petco Park. Walking distance. According to their website, Knotty Barrel was established in 2011 with a focus on 100+ local, domestic, and imported beers (including 20 craft beers on tap). Gastropub type food (focused on locally sourced food with farms and vendors). For the food, I tried their Grilled Cheese & Tomato Soup. NOM NOM NOM! As for the beer, Superfuzz Blood Orange Pale Ale. Delicious! ENJOY!! read more

Knotty Barrel - Gastropubs Near Me - San Diego, California

See all