If you're expecting average bar food, this isn't that…read more I went to Encontro in North Park and everything felt a step above what you'd expect. It's a casual spot, but the food leans more chef-driven and thoughtful. We started with the breadsticks and truffle butter simple, but really well done. The crispy portobello mushrooms were one of my favorites, super flavorful with a great texture. For drinks, I had a margarita and a bloody mary, both solid. For mains, we ordered the tri-tip sandwich (aka "Cardiff Crack") and the chicken sandwich. The tritip especially lives up to the hype really tender, packed with flavor, and easy to see why it has that nickname. Dessert is what stood out so much . The butter cake comes warm with ice cream and purée, and it was easily the highlight of the meal. I took a bite and just paused for a second it's that kind of dessert Overall, a really good spot if you want elevated comfort food in a laid back setting. I'd definitely come back, especially for that butter cake and tritip

Encontro is a busy gastropub sitting right on the corner of 30th & University in North Park. I love…read morecoming here specifically for their happy hour specials -- the plates are the perfect size, the drink deals are solid, and it's an easy spot to pop into after walking around the neighborhood. The entrée menu is decent -- nothing too out of the ordinary -- and pricing runs a little high in my opinion. But the atmosphere is lively, they're dog‑friendly, and the patio area is a nice place to sit if you want something casual and comfortable. Overall, a decent option if you're looking for a sit‑down American restaurant in North Park with good happy hour bites and a fun, busy vibe.

Thank you Hannah for your help! Such a fun spacious spot with perfect cider varieties. Would highly…read morerecommend the O.M.G. (Orange, mango, guava). They also have comedy nights and community events. My favorite part is they have a Pac-Man arcade you can play for free. (:

This used to be one of our favorite places for a meal or snacks. We visited Tuesday…read moreafternoon/evening and found the polenta Tots not nearly as crispy as before, and my salad was just cabbage, vinegar and a couple crushed cashews. My husbands chicken sandwich had cold fries and chicken

I stop here from time to time to watch a football or hockey game, but typically enjoy brunch…read more I was sad yesterday when I was told they were out of the pickle beer I normally get with my michelada. Luckily, Hayley was super helpful and suggested the strawberry blonde fruited lager instead of a michelada. It was pretty tasty!

I had a great experience here and would definitely come back. My review is mainly for drinks,…read moreservice and the facilities. I did not have anything to eat this time but will try the food next time. KPBS was having their One Book One San Diego event here and I was interested so stopped in today check it out. I am a bookworm and love reading so this event was perfect! This event also unveiled the top 10 books for each category including adults, teens and children. I learned that over 750+ book entries were received! Wow! At my table, I ended up meeting a librarian, a teacher and a publisher. The librarian was part of the selection committee and she suggested so many good books! She mentioned a book about octopus conversation in the atolls and my ears perked up. The book is Mountain in the Sea by Ray Nayler and its on my shortlist to read soon! Waiting for it on Libby! OK. back to the venue. We had the side part of the bar and everything was outside so that was nice. Service was great and Zach did a great job getting everyone's orders. I started off with a special edition One Book, One Brew beer, brewed in the Kolsch style and limited edition beer by Chula Vista Brewery. Nice, crisp and summery beer! I also had a margarita too, that was so-so for me so next time will stick with beers. Parking around here is a pain but I did find a spot after circling a few times. This bar/restaurant is in a hip part of North Park and I can see myself coming here to meet up friends or other events. I'll be back!!

I came here for brunch and had an amazing experience. Although it was a Sunday, and I didn't have a…read morereservation I was able to walk in and be seated immediately. I was seated in a cute little corner high top with a view of what they're doing in the kitchen. The entire place was very clean and music was playing but low enough that you can still hold a conversation. Service was great and our waitress was knowledgeable on recommendations. The steak was cooked to perfection and the rice was fluffy and flavorful. Definitely will be back.

Our waiter learned it was our first visit to the eatery, and recommended we try their…read more"off-the-menu" tasting menu. "2 dishes per person," he promised--we were game. He mentioned they'd course the dishes out, 2 at a time, ensuring each of the dishes were paired intentionally. Beet Salad From someone who's not easily impressed with vegetable-led dishes, this was delicious. This dish was visually vibrant, and the flavor mirrored that vibrancy. The beets themselves were stunningly soft, even juicy I'd say. It's root-y flavor was ever-present, but it never became unwelcome on the dish. "Fragrant" is another word we all used to describe the plate, with the fresh mint and succulent citrus fruit widening each our eyes. Sweet, savory, fresh and...creamy. This salad sat on top of a delightful carrot labneh, which provided a creamy element further elevating the dish. It brought a bit of tang to the salad that I appreciated. Finally, there was a crunchy detail (which we know I love) from intelligently included pieces of pastelli--a Greek treat made from sesame seeds and honey, and that sweet crunch fostered the table's excitement. Trust was firing on cylinders early, strong start. Hamachi Crudo Insane. I'm a big fan of the amount of flavor that's packed in such a delicate dish. Off rip, you're met with a visually exciting dish. Red, green, and purple from the thinly sliced pepper, cucumber, and radish pop right off the dish. Bright colors and exquisite execution, placed in a circle to match the shape of the dish, had each of us salivating. With the first taste, the crisp bite of fresh cucumber catches your senses immediately, and then subtly spicy, cream sauce. It was aguachile blanco--my first time having the blanco variant. The flavor was stupid, I struggled to describe it's uniqueness. The Mexican flavor profile was proliferated by fresh cilantro and thinly sliced radish, followed with a textured salsa seca. The light nature of the dish paired pristinely with the beet salad. Now, these next two dishes were an exciting 1-2 punch in showing you exactly what Chef is all about--that signature wood fire Wood Grilled Cauliflower I always eat my vegetables, but I rarely enjoy them. They're two for two in accomplishing that feat. In a bowl lined with curry, they served up a healthy helping of cauliflower that showcases its smokiness first. With that first bite, you taste the fire quickly, but what surprised me most was how soft each piece of the veg was. The curry and smoky flavor from the wood fire paired deliciously. Though, my favorite aspect of this delivery was the inclusion of raisins and fresh mint. This was a new combo for me, and it delivered. The sourness from the raisins and the cool, herbaceous qualities of the mint cut right through the charred flavor. A beautiful contrast. As we continued to dismantle the plate, there was a familiar flavor that we all recognized but couldn't identify. Maybe it was the serrano aioli or the black lentils. Either way, we all enjoyed this one. Wood Grilled Octopus This was a favorite of mine, but I was alone in that regard. While nobody disliked the dish, the table had mixed reviews. For me, this was perfectly cooked. The texture of the octopus was ridiculous with a cooking technique that created a crispy exterior while maintaining a tender bite. The smokiness didn't shy away here either. I mean damn. Most weren't a fan of the pepperoni, but fresh, ground meat added a rustic flavor pop that satiated my palate. It held that beloved pepperoni flavor, but this style allowed for it's flavor to spread across each bite. What made this dish unique from any other octopus I've had was the addition of castelvetrano olives and legumes. They both brought an interesting flavor and texture element that surprised me. Lastly, the salsa verde served as a perfect sauce, providing an element of moisture that complimented the charred features. Well done. After round two is when shit got real. Crab Fried Rice OH SHIT. WTF. One of the best rice dishes I've ever had. This is one we all wished was much much bigger. Despite the name, this dish includes chunks of incredibly juicy, wood-roasted lobster that there was never going to be enough of. The crab was shredded and could be found in each bite of plump rice, providing a pleasing flavor. Both a lemongrass emulsion and Thai chili were included, offering a wonderful duality of zest and spice. I thoroughly enjoyed the basil and cashew elements as they created some extra variety in flavor and texture. Not much else is needed for me to say, it's a must order. Char Sui Glazed Brisket OH SHIT. Back to back hitters, and they paired... There's sadly a character limit, but tap in and read the rest of my review for free on my Substack: Still Chewing https://stillchewing.substack.com/p/herb-and-sea

the best steak and frites!! the ambience was nice, nothing too fancy but their service was great…read more I got the steak medium rare and it was perfectly made. The fries you can never go wrong with-- and their truffle dip was superb The location is great too, good amount of street parking definitely one of my favorites in SD!

Update: Came back with my friends for weekend brunch! Got to see Sammy and JJ again. We did their…read moremimosa kit, which is a bottle and juice choices for only $25. Perfect for the 3 of us! We also got some eats, the menu was more condensed this day because of city fest going on. We just got a few shared bites and I got the Caesar salad with lettuce and kale. Maybe I was just hungry, but that was the most delicious Caesar salad! Of course I got an espresso martini again. Same great experience as before! A new fave spot!

Friends and I used to go to North Park Beer Company for the beers (always a good selection of…read morehazys), but now we find ourselves coming for the burger at Mastiff Kitchen. It's a very classic, no frills, burger that comes with fries. They also serve a slider plate version of it, in case you want to keep things light and/or share and introduce others to an underrated spot for the burger. I've also had the wings, and I feel like you can't go wrong with any classic bar food here. You'll get what you expect, but better. These days, eating out can dent the wallet more than it used to. With that said, I think the prices are fair. Paired with the beers from North Park Beer Company, the open space on two floors, it's a place worth keeping in your back pocket for those North Park nights out.

I deducted one star because when we ordered food, which was sharing, our food came out and we did…read morenot get plates or napkins from Mastiff Kitchen. The food was great however. Buffalo wings were good, hot honey garlic was better. Nachos were great.

Popped in for dinner before the Snail Mail concert. James recommended the smash burger. Well. It…read moresmashes all other burgers into the ground. Incredible. Ordered a Moscow Mule. Stellar. James knows his craft. He asked if I wanted another mule, and I said, "No. I want James' mule." It's definitely spirit forward. I'd eat there without going to a concert....just to eat there.

We had some downtime before doors opened to our show at North Park Observatory…read more Hubby said we could kick it "at the restaurant in front of the Observatory ". First time to either, and we asked the security gal, "Is there access to the show inside from the Tavern or do we need to walk back out & around the building?" Since security explained there's access from inside we went thru the metal detector and had my purse searched. There was no tables available in the first room, so we weaved towards the main room where the bigger bar's located. Luckily for us, we snagged some barstools. With 10 items to choose from the menu, why not have fried potatoes served two different ways?! I mean, you can't go wrong with deep fried food. We got the Garlic Parmesan Fries and Patatas Brava. We sat at one of the bar's corners, towards access to the show. The bartender on that end didn't acknowledge us. He served the couple next to us, who already had his attention. But, thankfully the other bartender that seemed to navigate the entire bar area, took or food & drink menu. Plenty of TV screens w/ all sorts of sports going on. More tables towards the front, standing area. Vibe was chill at the Tavern before our Small Town Murder (podcast show) began. We stuck to our Patron Palomas. They were stiff. There's a watering station near the man bar and three Unisex bathrooms below. If you wanted to walk upstairs, additional bathrooms up there.

1M/10 Teleport, don't walk…read moreTruly the best food my boyfriend and I have ever had. I'm also a breakfast/brunch enthusiast so I was in heaven. We went for breakfast on my boyfriend's birthday and it was the highlight of our day so unfortunately nothing else compared the rest of the day The donuts came out first and made us speechless! The crust perfectly protects the light and fluffy inside and holds the maple icing beautifully! The bacon is crunchy and crispy and the perfect complimentary salty crunch to the soft warm dough. It's a unique mouth feel and you want to eat all 3. I recommend ordering them last The caramelized brie and braised duck skillet hash was so unique and delicious, we had never had something like that before. The meat was juicy and melted in your mouth with the brie and soft scrambled eggs. The bread was toasted a crisp golden brown and was the perfect vehicle for the hash. They came with a side which wow THE CRISPY POTATOES OMG they were one of our favorite bites. So herbaceous and topped with coarse flakey salt for a tasty balanced bite. By time we got to the french toast logs I was ready to tap out, but boy momma didn't raise no quitter and my man knows that applies to him as well so we did what we had to do. They're extremely dense, thick, and very filling so I would split with at least one other person. I slathered them bad larry's in whatever magical whipped butter they gave us and got to work. I had to be pried away from the plate and table and airlifted home because of how full I was, but I couldn't stop eating it. We had leftovers and they heated up decently, as well as the donuts! Neither got soggy from refrigeration or microwaving, so that was impressive!

Classic American brunch with large portions. The food wasn't bad, but it was nothing special either…read moreand honestly pretty forgettable. Come try if for you, large portions sizes outweigh other factors when ordering out. Service was quick, attentive, and friendly. We sat outside and it was a pleasant bustling atmosphere. I wouldn't choose to return nor recommend this place because the food wasn't to my taste, but if it's for a group gathering you could do worse.

We were craving chicken and waffles this particular day and saw Mom's Chicken and Waffles on Yelp…read more The photos look promising so we gave them a try. Amazing prices for quality & generous meals! We both got the bacon waffle plate -- three pieces each of chicken tenders and bacon waffle with powdered sugar for $17. The chicken tenders were juicy, crispy, and not dry at all. A great meal and the place is ran by friendly folks. They were welcoming to our dog as well. I think we just found a good spot for chicken & waffles in town. Note: they are currently sharing the space with a sports bar so don't be shy to come in! The lady in-charge said their space is currently being renovated.

the worker looked me dead in the eye and said 25-35 minutes. I said fine…read more Place wasn't even busy. Maybe 40-50% capacity if I'm being generous. Attached is the photo One hour later food came out. Ordered 12:30 came out 1:30+. By the time it did my friends and I were pissed off. No accommodations. Nothing to make up for it. Couldn't even enjoy the meal. Food was average. Did not justify the wait. Chicken wasn't even hot so why did it take so long and I'm not sure how these guys have such good reviews. Portions were awful as well for the chicken. I feel completely rinsed. Eggs potatoes and bacon were fine. Can't really mess those up. I understand that things happen but as a restaurant it is your responsibility to ensure that your guests are fed in a proper time frame. We had to pay first as well. So we were forced to wait. I would have left half way through if I could. Get your kitchen staffed or close your doors.

Thanks to my friend for the recommendation of this place. We did our reservations at 5pm. We got…read morein. The service was fast. Love the decor inside-out. Looks like they have limited space inside but they also have patio dining. With the weather, I would rather enjoy my delicious dinner inside the cozy ambiance. Now let's talk about food! Excellent! Everything that we ordered... exceptional! Starting from the drinks sparkling lavender lemonade, refreshing! I had baked brie... omg, yummy! Love love love. Cuz i love cheese... especially brie, perfecto! Now i also had the creamy mac and cheese... love it. My husband loved his pork chop too. Their portions are more than 1 person can consume. Will definitely come back. Oh not to mention the extra customer service. My husband left his hat, they called me to let us know that we left his hat. Kudos to y guys! Highly recommended!

Came here without a reservation on a weekday and was seated right away. My fiancé and I ordered…read moreescargot, french onion soup, duckfat truffle fries, mussels, and maple duck breast. The escargot was delicious but I wish that the sauce was a bit stronger such as adding more garlic or having more sauce for us to drench the bread in. As for the french onion soup, I thought it was flavorful and strong in terms of the onion but I felt like the cheese was super heavy for me. The truffle fries was delicious. It had that strong truffle flavor and was crispy on the outside. For the mussels, it was a generous portion, however, I do wish that the sauce wasn't a tomato base due to it hiding the freshness from the main star of the dish. I also felt like that hint of cheese flavor was also overwhelming. Lastly, for the maple duck breast, I thought the duck was cooked perfectly and it was delicious, but it was a bit too sweet to my liking. Overall, the food was good with just some minor changes in my opinion. The staffs were nice and kind, although, it was a bit slow during the time we were there.