With so many options at the UTC be sure to check out Queenstown Bistro for some chill patio dining. This location is pretty much all outdoor with coverings for shade and a bar. But the ambiance is serene even though you are in the middle of a town center courtyard. Really nicely decorated. First if you like a Wagyu burger try their Wagyu Double Smash. Really good. They don't have fryers here so the fries are actually potato wedges but they are tasty. Drink menu looked impressive and lots of other patrons were enjoying fun looking brunch drinks. Service was friendly and helpful. I will come back to try more things. read more

Queenstown Bistro - Waygu Double Smash - American Near Me - San Diego, California

Terrible place if you have stroller or babies. Such a rude staff. Don't guide you properly and then keep making you move to make more space in already terribly cramped place. First time ever doing bad review for a place. Didn't have courtesy to say sorry for inconvenience when we stood up to leave. So rude. read more

Queenstown Bistro is an outpost of a local New Zealand restaurant group located at the base of the Westfield UTC Mall's clock tower. It's one of the landmarks of the mall right by the dining terrace. They have an outdoor dine-in seating area and a service counter for takeout orders. The dine-in section included a bar that was under shade and great for taking a break from shopping to sip on a beverage and/or nosh on some food. The New Zealand influenced offerings were spread across a two-page menu. Dinner Plates were listed across the top of one side. Shareables, Burgers, Sandwiches, Greens, and NZ Faves were the other categories. The flip side featured beverages, desserts, and a kids' menu. My original intent was to order an appetizer and an item from the NZ Faves. Unfortunately, the Sausage Rolls were sold out for the day which was my choice for an app. I settled for just the Meat Pie & Wedges for my meal. Seasoned beef, lamb, and cheddar were the ingredients inside a puff pastry pie. Several potato wedges were served on the side along with ketchup and aioli as dipping sauces. The wedges were hot out of the fryer so I had to slow down and let them cool off before eating. The pie was a decent size with the savory meats. I do think the $19 price tag for the combo of a pie and spuds was a few dollars too much. My latest dining experience at Queenstown Bistro was at a three star level. read more

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This place was a mix of highs and lows. It's located in the middle of a mall and has an open air concept, so it looks quite nice and has a certain coziness to it. With the seating we were given, we had a chance to kick back, chat, and people watch as people were going about their day walking around the mall. All things we enjoy doing. Plus points for all that. On the other hand, we were seated an obnoxiously small table, better suited for 1 diner. Our food, drinks and cutlery were all fighting for space, and maneuvering things around was a hassle. We got an order of Loaded Wedges and Lamb Skewers. The wedges had decent flavor and very pleasant texture, crispy and tender. I've never really been a fan of cheese sauce, so I didn't care much for it, though it had a good amount of richness and flavor. The lamb skewers were very tasty, but the temperature on them was off and they were slightly overcooked, and we were unfortunate enough to have gotten pieces with more fat than we would've liked. All in all our experience could've been much better. Maybe we come back and try again. 3/5 read more

Queenstown Bistro - Loaded Wedges - American Near Me - San Diego, California

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I've always been a fan of Queenstown in UTC, & have been going there for years, a lot of times with mixed reviews, but I wanted to go back tonight because there were more things on the menu, that I wanted to try. So arrived happy hour time had the HH special of the burger and beer for $20 on happy hour. I asked for the burger to be on a lettuce wrap instead of a bun, and the waiter came back and told me that that wasn't possible so in order to have the burger on a lettuce wrap I had to pay the $29, instead of $20. Very disappointed in the service and the food and the management. Will I go back, not sure! read more

Queenstown Bistro is beneath the clocktower located in the courtyard at the UTC shopping center in La Jolla. First hour parking is free. We had reservations and were seated outside under yellow and white sun shade umbrellas. It's the perfect spot for dining and people/dog watching. Have dined here several times and usually during daylight. My recent visit order included: a spot hot green, finger sandwiches and the warm butter toffee cake. I specifically requested lemon and honey for my tea and also silverware and napkins but the older male server wasn't focused and only brought it after the tea had gotten cold :( The trio of finger sandwiches consisted of: one cucumber and pimento peppers, chicken salad with green onions and also a brie tomato basil cut into shareable pieces were delicate and delish. The warm butter toffee cake with fresh strawberries were devine and not too sweet. It no pairs well with the hot green tea. Unfortunately, I was not able to fully enjoy the tea with lemon and honey as I requested. Thus, my dining experience wasn't pleasant. This restaurant is at a great location in the plaza and looks very stylish. The menu offer casual food with a New Zealand and Southern California twist. My previous dining experiences were very good: shrimp and mango salad, blackened grilled salmon salad and iced berry cocktails were all good. Will have to consider my last visit as not so good due to subpar service by that particular server. Service from the other servers and hostess were nice and accommodating but I would consider a return visit and expect better service as this is a nice place even if you're not from New Zealand mate! read more

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I discovered the other Queenstown location in La Jolla and was excited to see this location in the UTC. They have a really cute atmosphere with all the greenery and floral designs. This location is smaller than La Jolla but is super convenient being in the Town Center and parking can be easier. Me and my hubby decide to do a split lunch and started off with the Chili and Chips appetizer. It's a white bean chilli with ground turkey, jalapeno and lots of cheese, served with colorful chips served in a small skillet. This was actually very yummy. It can definitely be a meal for one pe berson. Personally I prefer the traditional tortilla chips and not the red and blue ones, but the appetizer was very good. We paired the appetizer with a Wagyu Double Smash burger. Our waiter was very attentive to our special dietary needs and brought our all the fixings and condiments on the side. The burger itself was so good. Melt in your mouth pattys and cheese. Definitely recommend this. We were pretty full after that and couldn't get into any yummy looking desserts, but we will surely come back for another visit. read more

Queenstown Bistro - Wagyu Double Smash (custom made plain) - American Near Me - San Diego, California

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We were seated promptly by the hostess and she was patient enough to take down the umbrella and put on the heater, since we requested one. Ambiance is very casual and trendy, overlooking the middle of UTC. It's a nice place to people watch and see pets interact with each other! Not sure if he's the manager, but our waiter Larry felt condescending and also was rushing us to order. I'm giving the benefit of the doubt, since it's my first time coming to this place, but the reason being was when we were a little indecisive with our food. We asked for options and asked questions, but he didn't seem to want to help us and just wanted our order. For the food, we ordered the wagyu double smash and the meso tasty. Both meals were good but not dishes that stood out among other places that serve similar meals. You're really there just for vibes and to take breaks from shopping. If it wasn't for the service, I think we would've enjoyed our meals more. read more

Food: 4/5 Service: 4/5 Ambiance: 4/5 I've always been curious about this restaurant so we decided to pop in this past weekend for brunch. It was a chilly day and all of the seating is outdoors/patio, so dress accordingly. There weren't any open tables for 2, so we sat at the busy end of the bar where they were washing dishes and coming in and out. Not my favorite, but I was starving and not willing to wait. We ordered the croissant sandwich and Wagyu smash burger. 100% recommend the burger. It was juicy, packed with flavor, and so good with the onions and sauce. I'd pass on the croissant sandwich. Seems like a good place for drinks though if you want to relax after some power shopping. read more

Queenstown Bistro - Wagyu Double Smash - American Near Me - San Diego, California

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Queenstown Bistro is located in Westfield UTC Shopping Center by the Clocktower. This eatery specializes in New Zealand inspired dishes. Their menu is expansive. There's something for everyone...even have a Burger of the Month Club for those who looove wagu beef. I enjoyed eating my yummy food in a unique beauuutiful and comfortable patio setting. It's always niiice to dine outdoors when the opportunity arises. The service was pretty good. My waiter was on his A game. I appreciated his attentiveness. I definitely recommend Queenstown Bistro to the Yelp Community :-D read more

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I had been wanting to try Queenstown Bistro for a long time, so I was excited to finally visit. Unfortunately, the experience was disappointing. The service was lacking from the start. Our server was very short with us and not particularly friendly or welcoming. After taking our order, it took quite a while for our drinks to arrive. The food was just average. The burgers were okay, but honestly, I've had better burgers from fast-food restaurants. My son requested several customizations to his burger, and the kitchen got all of them wrong. When our meals were brought to the table, the staff left without providing any silverware, so we had to track someone down and ask for it ourselves. Overall, between the poor service, order mistakes, and underwhelming food, this visit did not meet expectations. We won't be back! read more

Queenstown Bistro - Smashburger special - American Near Me - San Diego, California

Always amazing service and excellent food! Giselle was such an amazing server and took great care of us! Some of my favs are the sliders and the pretzel that comes witch nacho cheese. Staff is very accommodating, even on super busy days. It's super cute inside and they have a fabulous bar as well. They also do to go drinks since it's at the UTC so you can shop after! read more

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We fell in love with New Zealand meat pies when we visited Queenstown a few years ago. So ... we came to Queenstown Bistro in UTC to try theirs. The NZ Meat Pie & Wedges (4/5) was delicious -- lamb and cheddar in two puff pastries -- but a little less cheddar would have been better. ($24) Queenstown Bistro is an open-air pavilion near the center of UTC -- near the Skating Rink. The view from most tables is of shoppers walking the mall. 2 Service was good but slow. read more

Queenstown Bistro - Menu - American Near Me - San Diego, California

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Had a great experience here as a solo diner. I had the peach sangria (Pinot Grigio for the wine base) and the wild shrimp dinner plate. It came with baguette, a really flavorful kale side salad, and the creamy, rich broth that the shrimp were in was truly divine. There is indoor and outdoor seating; it is at the UTC mall near the fountain and not too far from the food court. Service was good overall. A little bit of a delay getting my order, but I brought it to another server's attention and they quickly assisted their coworker with placing my order. My server came back shortly after to confirm my order was received. I was checked on, water refilled, and the food recommendation was great. I was torn between the spaghetti squash and the shrimp plate. I will have to go back to try the spaghetti squash. I broke the cardinal rule and my phone didn't eat first-it was too tasty. read more

Queenstown Bistro has been on my list for a long time. Finally made it here and it did not disappoint. We had the sausage rolls as an appetizer and it was really good. For my main, I got the lamb burger which came with wedges. It had a lot of different ingredients but they all worked really well together. Wedges were ok but the aioli was good. We also got the new Zealand breakfast. Thought it was ok but liked the other dishes better. Server was friendly though took a little while to get our order in after we initially put the appetizer order in. However, once it was in, food came fast. I would come here again to try more of the dishes. Make a reservation. This place gets busy! read more

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Food is decent but the service leaves a lot to be desired. We came on a Sunday around 2:30 and it wasn't busy so we were seated right away. Right off the bat the service was bad. The hostess wasn't there to greet us. When we got to our table she actually handed us a wipe to wipe off the seats ourselves instead of doing it for us. The waiter we had seemed like he was in his own world and didn't acknowledge when we made certain comments or had questions. All that being said, the food came out quickly and was pretty good. I got the veggie wrap with the oven baked potatoes. The potatoes were really well seasoned and tasty! The wrap was a good size and had a good amount of ingredients, albeit the flavor was lacking for me. Don't think I'd come back to this location purely because of the service. read more

Queenstown Bistro - Veggie wrap with oven baked potatoes - American Near Me - San Diego, California

Very relaxing location with lovely service. Cool and clean in the shade on a warm day. Great service, friendly and prompt.. great attitude. Nice selection of draft beers. read more

Queenstown Bistro - Pretzel and cheese - American Near Me - San Diego, California

Had brunch here with my husband and loved it! I got the steak and eggs with potatoes -- steak was cooked perfectly -- and a perfect portion for me, my espresso martini was delicious. My husband ordered the scramble and literally ate every bite. The outdoor seating is beautiful with lots of sunlight -- perfect if you're spending the day shopping at UTC. Super pet-friendly and family-friendly too; we saw plenty of families with kids enjoying brunch. It is bit on the pricey side, but worth it for the food and atmosphere. read more

Queenstown Bistro - Steak and eggs, espresso martini - American Near Me - San Diego, California

Dropped my car off at the automotive repair place down the street. They dropped me off at UTC and I needed something to eat. As soon as I walked out of the food court, Queenstown caught my eye. It's a cute little place. I stood I at the front reading the menu they have posted. I may have looked as though I was not ready to come in as it did take a few minutes before I was addressed, but they let me sit in this cute little area that allowed me to lounge and read. Nate assisted me and he was very nice and welcoming from the first interaction. I also love that he reminded me of his name multiple times. I ordered the shrimp and mango salad. It was exactly what I needed. The mimosas were perfect. Most places add too much juice. The perfect mimosa is made with just a splash of juice and Queenstown stepped up. Will definitely come back when I am at UTC, again. Side note: I was reading reviews and other persons do not know what reviewing a place means. The service was bad, but the food was great, yet you still give only one star? Grow up. read more

Queenstown Bistro - Shrimp and mango salad and mimosa - American Near Me - San Diego, California

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Queenstown is a fantastic regular spot for us; an all around balanced place. Covered, cute outdoor area. Food is tasty, simple, and feels super healthy and fresh. The steak & Cesar is probably our most ordered and is so good, so balanced. $5 mimosas on Sat & Sun from 10am-noon! A STEAL! They're killer. Also you can get some to go. Super dog friendly; they love our doggies & even have a lil menu for them! Everyone is so nice and kind!!!! We love the manager. Just be kind and understanding when you're at an establishment and they will treat you the same. :) read more

Queenstown Bistro - Steak Caesar, avocado toast! - American Near Me - San Diego, California

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This place is okay, but way overpriced. When I asked for a medium cooked burger medium it came out well done. Fries were soggy and cold. If you try this place, don't order the burger. read more

Wonderful First-Time Experience! I was honestly amazed at how generous the portion was for my lamb skewers--I couldn't believe it! They were so delicious that I even had plenty left over for later. Everything on my platter was absolutely perfect, from the presentation to the flavors. The homemade bread came out warm and fresh, the cucumbers added a refreshing crunch, the hummus and seasonings tied everything together beautifully, and the lamb was cooked to perfection. My husband ordered a burger, and it was just as impressive--he devoured it without hesitation (lol). The only downside was the service did take a bit long, but we were in somewhat of a hurry and maybe they were understaffed? Either way it didn't hinder our experience and was still a great time. We'll definitely be back! read more

Queenstown Bistro - Wagyu Double Smash and lamb skewers - American Near Me - San Diego, California

First time I came here, I didn't get to eat because I had waited 50 mins for my appetizers to come out. Server was nice and very apologetic, and I felt bad for him since it seemed like he was the only one working. My guy wanted to try again, so we did. We sat outside at those incredibly tiny tables that for 1.5 dishes at a time. We tried the Loaded Wedges (the cheese was okay but I enjoyed how fresh it was. The potatoes still had a very nice texture to it) and the Lamb Skewers (chimichurri hummus was yumm! Sadly the lamb was incredibly fatty and overcooked. The naan would've been extra good if it had been toasted). Overall, there were good and bad things for each dish giving it an overall average experience. read more

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So drove all the way down here to eat and they decided to close early. Who decided, I asked. The Manager I was told, because we were slow. Well what's the point of having business hours if you're not gonna abide by them? It's not like this place is located in some inconspicuous place, it's in the middle of the mall. And they don't answer their phone, there's no way to contact them because they have an AI bot answering their phone number you call that leads to nowhere. Lame. read more

The smash burger is fantastic!!! You have to try it. The chicken pot pie was a bit too heavy because of the cream but it was tasty. Plenty of space to dine together. The servers were all great and frequently checked in. The food was also brought out very quickly! read more

Queenstown Bistro - Wagyu Double Smash - American Near Me - San Diego, California

Tried the new Mushroom truffle burger with a Paloma drink and best combo ever all the flavors blend perfectly to a crisp. Also the Chardonnay is always on point. The staff here is like a family everyone is working as a well oiled machine chain. Love this location as far as Queens town goes. Will definitely be back read more

Not a real place for large groups but the young lady in front made it work. Our server was real nice and helped out and accommodate us as much as possible. The food was good, there does not seem to be any complaints. A couple people wanted French toast but somehow they ran out and we weren't able to order them. Out of luck in the sky they were able to squeeze some French toast out for us, that was weird. But they tasted great. Oh and my meal was supposed to come with jam and I they didn't put any on. The only way I found out is cause I grabbed the dish that I thought was jam and spread it all over my toast to eat later. When I went to eat it, it was ketchup. Was not expecting ketchup on my dish. read more

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Had lunch today at Queenstown Bistro. It was an absolute amazing meal. My Grandgirl is Celiac & and our Server informed us they could accommodate her dietary needs - he told us one of the owners was also Celiac. The place is absolutely beautiful and inviting inside and on their patio. The only problem I felt like there was only one waiter in the whole restaurant. Although our server was attentive there seemed to be too much time between his checking on us -the food was absolutely delicious and the prices were reasonable for a La Jolla restaurant. It would be worth your time to make a reservation and try this place - you won't regret it read more

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I had the Kiwilango burger and seasoned fries, with an iced tea! I had to go back a week later to eat it again! Both times I ordered it to go and it was so delicious and so fresh. B service at this location is very friendly and very fast. There is a great amount of seating at this UTC location. But it does get very busy on the weekend so I would recommend getting there early. read more

i'm at this place like once a week, it's such an easy spot that always is good. join the burger of the month club - it is the best deal!!! this months is a salmon burger and was delish. read more

Big portions! The chicken pot pie was huge!! Would be a great dish to split. Super flavorful and very herby. read more

Queenstown Bistro - Hogs & Heifers - American Near Me - San Diego, California

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Sitting in the center of UTC mall you wouldn't expect much from this restaurant, but it really shines! I came in for their weekend brunch offering and I loved their New Zealand Brekkie plate, it came with SO much food. At my table we also got the chicken pot pit which was the biggest i've ever seen and delicious! I would definitely come back again are order that to split with someone as it was super rich but very good. Once you're in the seating area you feel separate from the rest of the mall which is nice as from the outside, the restaurant almost looks like a pop up. We got our food super fast too and the hostess was very helpful with our questions at the beginning. read more

Queenstown Bistro - New Zealand Brekkie - American Near Me - San Diego, California

The decor is beautiful, there's something that calls to your eyes at every corner. Whether it's your flavorful drinks, the delicious food or the decor. You know you're at the right spot to relax, let go and have an amazing time with friends and a drink or two. read more

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We were lured back to try Queenstown Bistro after we saw an online newsletter mentioning to sign up for their Burger of the Month club where you can buy their special burger, and you can get another one of equal or lesser value for free. Their monthly special was the "Steak n Blue," a decadent looking alternative to a philly cheese steak-style sandwich with gorganzola, pepperoncini, and horseradish aioli. It sounded different enough from the burgers we tried the last time we were here (which we didn't particularly enjoy), so we said "why not?" - Steak n Blue: 5/5 stars. The meat was abundant and tender. The umami flavor of the steak contrasted very well with the pungent gorganzola and the tang of the pepperoncini. The bun was soft and pillowy. Overall, a beautifully executed sandwich that satisfied all my taste buds. A different yelper posted their dish in their review, which I think is for a different location, because this location does not have thin french fries. This location has potato wedges, which were seasoned nicely, although I wish they were more browned or crunchier. - Wagyu double smash: 5/5 stars. I am very susceptible to advertising because I ordered this burger after passing by their sign at the entrance advertising this as their most well-liked burger. Well, I like it too! The burger remained juicy with nicely seared patties, gooey cheese, and crisp pickles. This also came with potato wedges. Overall, a 5/5 gustatory experience. My appetite was very happy at the end of this meal. The only thing that almost made the meal a 1/5 experience was that our server was very impatient and annoyed by us, even though I only spoke ~2-3 sentences to him total throughout the entire meal. My partner and I assumed that he was the owner being called in for serving duties that he didn't want to do. There is "indoor" and "outdoor" dining but you are outdoors regardless. The chairs are hard so bring something to cushion your bum if you have back problems like my partner does (or ask to switch to the cushioned chairs, which we didn't do because we were scared of talking to our server). Bathrooms are located in the food court. read more

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I had a very disappointing experience at this restaurant. We were placed on the waiting list, but the hostess never came to call us. Instead, she was extremely rude from the beginning. When we tried to go inside, she refused to let us enter because we had our 3-month-old baby in a stroller. Rather than offering a solution or speaking respectfully, she asked us to leave in a very disrespectful way. The way we were treated made me genuinely feel discriminated against. It's heartbreaking that such a beautiful restaurant is represented by staff who treat families with so little kindness and respect. I would not recommend this place based on the customer service we received. Everyone deserves to be treated with dignity, regardless of whether they have a baby or are using a stroller. read more

I came here for happy hour with some friends and it was okay! The ambiance was cute and the service was good, they were a bit preoccupied since there was an event being hosted but our waitress was still super helpful and came by often enough! Monthly Truffle Mushroom Burger - 11/10, this was SO good!! I love their burger of the month deal and we all agreed this one was the best one Wagyu Burger - 7/10, this was good but compared to the truffle one it paled in comparison Peach Sangria - 0/10, it was so watered down and it was just gross read more

Queenstown Bistro - American Near Me - San Diego, California

I have been walking by here for years and always wanted to stop here and give it a try. I regret that I did. Location at utc is nice, but thats about all that is good about this place. The food was overpriced and non quality. Reminded me of back in college when the fraternity cook would slop leftovers together and call it dinner. Also $8.00 for an unsweetened regular iced tea ? Yo! Say what? And that was with no refills and in a small glass. I so wanted to like this place, and the service was okay, but it is safe to say I will not be coming back. Try at your own risk. read more

I wanted to try this place because I liked Dunedin (I believe they are sister restaurants). I ordered NZ Meat Pies, NZ sausage roll and NZ Chicken pot pie. The meat pies and sausage rolls were good. The chicken pot pie was salty but i liked the puff pastry. Overall It wasn't as good as I expected. I returned a week later for happy hour. I'm sad they took NZ meat pies off the happy hour menu. Anyway, I ordered a pretzel, which was pretty good. The Wagyu burger and BLT sandwich were tasty. The potato wedges were not good at all. The red sangria was ok. I don't think they worth the price I paid for. The guy who served us didn't smile at all and was quite rude when I asked questions about the food and happy hour menu. He made me wouldn't want to go back there. I would go back to Dunedin for my NZ cravings in the future. read more

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Awesome customer service!!! They are multi-tasking and helping each other. My husband and I were in the place on a weekend evening. Around this time of the year, it's already cold. The place is an open area, despite the heaters, still kinda cold. The food is great! Quality! Love love potato wedge even their spicy tequila. read more

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My husband and I moved to San Diego about a year ago, and since then we've made Queenstown Bistro part of our Saturday tradition. We come back week after week because it's consistently one of our favorite places in the city. Yes, the food is fantastic. We've never had a disappointing meal. Everything is fresh, beautifully prepared, and consistently delicious. But honestly, the food is only part of why we keep coming back. The real magic is the people. The team at Queenstown isn't putting on an act--they're genuinely warm, welcoming, interesting, and kind. Every person we've met there feels authentically human. They work hard, they remember people, they laugh, they hustle when it's busy, and they create an atmosphere that makes you actually want to linger. In a world where genuine hospitality is becoming rare, this place has it. Reading some of the one-star reviews honestly makes me shake my head. Restaurants are run by human beings, not robots. Sometimes there's a wait. Sometimes a mistake happens. If your first instinct is to torch a wonderful local business over a minor inconvenience, maybe take a breath and remember there are real people on the other side doing their best. Queenstown Bistro has earned our loyalty because they consistently deliver great food, great drinks, and most importantly, a culture of kindness. That's far more memorable than perfection. We're incredibly grateful to have found this place. It's become one of our favorite parts of living in San Diego, and we look forward to our Saturday visits every week. Thank you to everyone at Queenstown for making us feel at home. See you next Saturday. read more