We came for an early lunch while vacationing. The restaurant was empty with one other table occupied. Our waitress seemed like she just woke up or something. She definitely needed some caffeine or just a smile on her face. The interior was really open and airy. I was blown away when my entree arrived. This little unassuming restaurant has one of the best Ruben sandwiches I've ever tasted! It was stuffed with tender juicy meat and warm cheese oozing out from the sides. The marbled rye bread was the perfect choice for this sandwich. Their fries were amazing as well. My husband wasn't that hungry so he ordered a cobb salad - thinking that would be a small simple lunch. He was also blown away by his meal - the presentation, freshness, and flavors. I don't think my photos do them justice. If you're in the area, definitely make a lunch stop here to fuel up! read more

Good food. The last two times I have been here they have really improved. The happy hour deals are great. In a great part of town.

How is this place anything under four stars? We go here on occasion and the service is always friendly and excellent. The food is great and the drinks are the best in our town. Well I guess that's the only place you can get a real drink in this town but all said, it's a great place to go. Come on people. Let's support local! read more

We had a great 40th birthday party thank you to SETS! We are, drank and danced the night away. The food was amazing and so were the drinks. We love this local restaurant and come all the time. They have an amazing brunch menu too Kevin the owner helped us every step of the way to make this an amazing party. read more

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Happy 40th Birthday to me! Straight off the airplane to Sets & it was the perfect stop. We shared a delicious appetizer & craft cocktails. Our server Meg was the absolute BEST & her cocktails were spot on. We really enjoyed talking & sharing stories with her. I can't wait to be back in San Diego sipping & snacking at Sets! read more

Sets Kitchen & Bar - New American Near Me - San Marcos, California

After always seeing this place pop up on Yelp, I finally decided to give it a shot and I've been back since.. which means I have deemed it - return worthy! Cute inside, cute outside. Good beer and wine list. Food options are more limited during lunchtime and I haven't been during dinner yet but the dinner entrees look yummy as well. For lunch, I must confess that I am a creature of habit which means I've actually only tried one thing in their menu - the mussels. They be delicious!!! All that butter.. and the bread.. yum. It is a bit salty, but I'm into it. Paired with a nice glass of Sauvignon Blanc.. *chef's kiss* My friend had the fish tacos and said they were really good. We shared a brussel sprouts app and that was good too. Highly recommend checking this place out! read more

Love this restaurant. The food is great, the service is great and atmosphere is wonderful. We live nearby so happy we have an awesome restaurant nearby. read more

We have been here a few times and have always enjoyed ourselves and the food. Great family atmosphere. I have only had their salads and burgers and can say they are delicious. Tanya has been our server twice and she is wonderful. She is great with our kids and is very friendly. They have live music some days and TVs for sports games! :) read more

I come here from time to time as I live nearby. Their food menu could be a bit more diverse and I really wish they offered Sunday brunch year round but it's a nice place to have in San Elijo as there really isn't another place of it's kind around there. The food quality is very good; everything I've had on the menu has been great but the prices are a tad high but I'd say it's par for the course for the type of place this is. The servers are fantastic, though. Super friendly and they really make it a great atmosphere and experience! read more

There are limited options in the small town and this restaurant is very average. It's not bad but not great either. If you're looking for a wow this isn't it. But if you're looking for a sit down that's on par to a chain restaurant with slightly better finesse then this is your place. Also very disappointed in their wine list. Nothing good. read more

Walked up for dinner on a Saturday & seated instantly. Not as busy as one would expect. Service was attentive. Food was good to fair. The steak salad and poke bowl were decent sized & both good. The grilled chicken caprese sandwich was just ok. All the fries were cold, regular & sweet potato. We should've asked for fresh fries. read more

Sets Kitchen & Bar - Cedar River Farms Steak salad is good $17 - New American Near Me - San Marcos, California

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The food is top-notch as everything we have had has been extremely fresh. Try the doughnuts for dessert. You will wait once ordered as they are made at that time. Our servers have been friendly and accommodating to our requests. While it is an open ceiling concept, they don't blast the music. You are able to have a normal volume conversation. We will be trying their happy hair soon. read more

Sets Kitchen & Bar - Crispy chicken with Cole slaw sandwich. Yummy french fries. - New American Near Me - San Marcos, California

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Hosted my sisters bridal shower here on 11/10, and the service and commitment to an exceptional experience was unmatched! They were beyond accommodating, and created a delicious menu featuring brunch and lunch menu items, I personally had the veggie sandwich which was fantastic, and the bride had a steak salad she loved. The space was beautiful and matched our theme perfectly. Sarah was our host/ server/ party point person and she was beyond amazing, thank you Sarah! Thank you to Kevin, and all of the management team at SETS for allowing us to host, and for the amazing experience, I will recommend SETS to anyone who asks! read more

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In all honesty, Sets far exceeded my expectations. Service was not only phenomenal (a word I rarely ever use), but almost every dish and drink we received was far more delicious than your standard. Staff went above and beyond and were super patient with us throughout the night. The restaurant was bustling, but our orders did not take long to come out at all. This is a great spot for a date night or family outing. Here's what we had: ------ - Pork belly brussel sprouts: super crispy, not oversaturated in sauce. pork belly was not greasy in the slightest, but provided great textural contrast. a great way to start off the meal. - Short rib sliders: good, especially with the buttered and grilled bun. slight sweetness added just enough balance. - Caprese: plenty of crispy baguette, portioned well with the amount of mozzarella and tomato. just enough drizzle to add flavor but not overwhelm everything else. very refreshing, and while I'm usually not a huge caprese fan, I'd gladly order this again. - Kid's chicken tenders w/ french fries: my friend wanted the tenders badly, despite it being on the kids menu. they were very understanding right off the bat and gave us zero trouble with ordering that as part of our meal. fries were perfectly crisped but fluffy on the inside. tenders were actually plentiful, considering it was a kid's menu item. - Fried chicken sandwich w/ mac & cheese: it had an unexpected kick, and was surprisingly juicy and crispy! I was honestly pleasantly surprised. I mentally roll my eyes now every time I see another menu with their version of a fried/hot chicken sando, but I would gladly order this again as well. The mac & cheese was also very well done. Noodles weren't soggy, cheese sauce was thick and flavorful -- not at all runny/watered down. Definitely recommend subbing this as your side! - B&T's sweet treat dessert: nutella overload! the fresh strawberries and cream created more balance within the dish but I feel like it could've used some vanilla ice cream. this was half of our party's favorite dessert. - Chocolate flourless cake: moist, soft, and almost gooey. Perfect with the vanilla ice cream on top, and just sweet enough without being overwhelming. If you like lava cakes, you'll like this. The other half of our party's favorite dessert. - Bourbon bread pudding: the bread, sauce, and ice cream paired well, but we all felt the fruit overpowered everything else on the dish. Perhaps order this with the fruit on the side so you can add to taste. read more

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Super service from Noah! Food selections are always great! Dog friendly patio! Love coming here! read more

Myself and five senior gents - and their two pooches - visited Sets for the first time this evening and we were all impressed. The place was comfortable and well designed, not loud, the menu was nice and the food was good. But the best part was the service. And that was all due to the charming Anna and her terrific attitude and attentiveness. We will be happy to return. read more

We love that Sets Kitchen and Bar is right down the street from our house. We don't frequent the restaurant but the few times we've gone for breakfast have been fantastic with delicious food and friendly staff. Our daughter's field hockey team has hosted a few fun gatherings here as well and there pre-prepped food options are always delicious and the cocktail, wine, + beer bar a plus for those long ceremonies read more

Food is tasty, service is good but please please get some additive free good tequila.

Yummy food and amazing staff that was super friendly! I came with some friends for March Madness and the vibes were amazing, especially the soft bake pretzel, I can't wait to come back! read more

Best local spot for Sunday Brunch (breakfast burrito or the benny!) and Football!! The lunch and dinner entrees are also amazing. read more

Sets Kitchen & Bar - Breakfast Burrito!! - New American Near Me - San Marcos, California

First time here with ohana. Nice ambiance. Service was good. Food was delicious. Sister-in-law ordered three appetizers (Artichoke Dip, Shrimp with Curry Dip and Pretzels with Mustard Dip and Cheese Dip). Ohana members order Steak chop salad and BBQ Chicken Chop Salad. I ordered the Bison Burger with Sweet Potato Fries and I washed it all down with Rice Beer. I had my Bison Burger prepared medium well and it was onolicious! I wished my fries were crispy, though. They were soggy. read more

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My brother and his wife live here in San Marcos and spoke very highly of this restaurant. We went there to eat and it certainly did not disappoint. The food was absolutely delicious. I really liked it. The service was top notch as well and that's coming from a person that has been a server and knows what good service looks like and feels like. Alexis was our server and not only was she super sharp, she was super friendly and was on cue with everything needed at the table. Definitely go try this restaurant if you're looking for a great meal. Get the salmon meal or the short ribs, both are amazing! read more

Sets Kitchen & Bar - Short ribs - New American Near Me - San Marcos, California

Showed up at 5:45 and they apparently stop serving happy hour at 5:30? Not sure it's on their website at 6. Doesn't seem like a consistent place if they can't even get their times right? read more

Casual, friendly eatery with killer specials. Plenty of seating, good bar, and solid food. Their Wednesday wine nights with every glass of wine $5 is not to be missed. Every dish I've had here from burgers, salads, entrees and stolen bites of my kids' children's menu food has been really tasty. Some say the service is lacking, but mostly it just feels unhurried, and that's not always a bad thing. Are they at your table every five minutes? No. But when you're hanging out with friends and having some drinks before dinner, it's a plus. You don't feel rushed. My needs have always been met here by really lovely staff and the owners seem really approachable and awesome. I'm quite pleased to have this place so near. read more

For a new restaurant, SETS scored for me. One week in and the service was great (thanks Ryan), and the food was on time and hot. It has a great vibe and good energy there. I had the ahi salad entree and it was exceptional. Not your frozen, fake grilled ahi, but the real deal. My bison burger was perfect - and delicious. I'll be back often... read more

Sets Kitchen & Bar - New American Near Me - San Marcos, California

We were so pleased with our experience at SETS! We were a bit unsure of how it would be considering how new the restaurant is and how the current situation with jobs and the pandemic are still not ideal. We truly enjoyed our experience and are excited to return frequently! The hostess was friendly, and our waitress was fantastic! She was knowledgeable about the menu, had helpful suggestions, and gave encouraging feedback as we ordered. She was attentive and friendly without being at our table too much. I ordered the Spicy Primavera cocktail (basically a watermelon margarita), and it was really light, not sweet, and delicious! My husband enjoyed their beer selection and happy hour pricing. We shared a couple of appetizers for our early dinner and thoroughly enjoyed both. The Seared Ahi Delight was lovely, but the tuna was a bit over cooked. The slaw of mango, snap peas, fried avo, and wontons was delicious. The Pork Belly Brussels were spot on! We love Brussels sprouts, and these were delicious! I admit that I did a bit of research before dining by looking at reviews on both Google and Yelp. One of the reviews mentioned sticky floors, and I did notice that as I was walking in, and the wooden tables and chairs were slightly sticky, too. It didn't concern me greatly since most heavy-duty antibacterial cleaners for the pandemic can leave a residue. I'm sure they will figure out a solution that is not quite so sticky as they continue to work out the kinks of a new business. We're looking forward to trying out more of their menu in the months to come! read more

Sets Kitchen & Bar - Spicy Primavera and a great view - New American Near Me - San Marcos, California

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Great service, great food, great time! The happy hour sliders were BOMB & the R&R drink made me feel like I was on vacation in Hawaii read more

Sets Kitchen & Bar - Sliders Burger R&R - New American Near Me - San Marcos, California

I live down the street so I come here to read by book at the outside bar and let my dog say hi to everyone; or I come in painfully hungover needing help. For whatever reason I come in Meg always gives me awesome service and remembers me and my dog. It's great to have someone you don't know to joke with and get taken care of :) the food is always awesome as well. I do the create your own burger read more

Sets Kitchen & Bar - New American Near Me - San Marcos, California

Today Sunday (7/2/23) was my second time from yesterday when I came for the first time with a group from Orange Therory. I'm going to kick myself again for forgetting the beer I had (Regina will have to remind me again who was awesome). I've had the smokehouse burger and today the quinoa burger. Smokehouse very good as expected, but it quinoa to my surprise was also good. I've never tried quinoa outside of the microwaveable packets that I would get at Costco. Oh the name of the beer is pupil (I realized my receipts were via text message). A little out of the way but still close to home. I mentioned to Regina not this Friday or Saturday (I'm leaving town) but possibly following Friday I'll try and work it in. read more

I'm so happy to have a restaurant in the neighborhood, we love wine Wednesday a good excuse to come out every Wednesday Night. The Patio is very pleasant to sit outside, Inside is beautiful too! The servers are friendly. The burgers are great here- And dessert too.My favorite restaurant in San Elijo Hills! read more

Sets Kitchen & Bar - Dessert - New American Near Me - San Marcos, California

I've wanted to come here for awhile but finally made it on an early Saturday to watch the World Cup and we will be back! Great atmosphere, attentive servers, reasonably priced and stacked bar. We ordered bloody Mary's and mimosas (I think they do unlimited ones on Sundays) which were tasty but the skillets and the burritos were flavorful and filling - great portion sizes! I hear this place is hopping during happy hour as well - I'll be back! read more

Sets Kitchen & Bar - Veggie scramble -- delish!! - New American Near Me - San Marcos, California

Wow! The service and food here was amazing! Our server, Alexis, was attentive and bubbly. She went above and beyond to ensure a great dining experience. Without asking, she brought my young kids' food out first. That kept them busy while we waited for our food (which came shortly after). The whole family enjoyed their plates. Fried chicken sandwich was fire. Baby back ribs were tender and juicy. Mac and cheese was delicious. Literally everything about this spot was amazing. Would love to come back for brunch. Their bloody looks yummy! Thank you SETS! read more

Sets Kitchen & Bar - Fried chicken sandwich (with a spicy twist) and Mac and cheese - New American Near Me - San Marcos, California

Food was good! Service was the problem. Very slow. Around the time our food should have arrived, the server stated they were out of what I ordered, and I had to order something else. Now we wait another half hour. Drinks took forever to receive, one being incorrect and having had to go back... another 15 minutes. I asked for a refill on my tea when the food finally arrived; I was nearly done eating by the time I got it. Never got the "treat" with the kids meal. I will try once more; hopefully that server will be better trained or not there. Disappointing. Nice ambiance. read more

We were so excited to try this incredible new restaurant! Food was AMAZING, service was OUTSTANDING and the glass of wine brought everything together. Izzy, our servicer was very attentive and made sure we had everything we needed. The ambience of the restaurant was very cool...the windows were glass garage door rollups...the tables were spaced were we weren't sitting on top of each other and they have TV's incase you don't want to miss the game. Stop by and give this place a try, I know we will be back! read more

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We love Sets!! It's a community gathering place that you're likely to run into a neighbor here. The staff is friendly and knowledgeable! The food is delicious and has a variety of options. They have gluten free buns for their burgers. They have a full bar with a few TV's if you like to watch sports. They have brunch on the weekends. It's a great place to meet up with friends, and kids are welcome here too! read more

What to say? Service is adequate. Location is right in the center of town in San Elijo Hills. Restaurant is clean, light and airy. We gave them a couple of chances since they are close to home. Food is decent, good even, but way overpriced. This isn't haute cuisine, but try to tell the owners that. Not going back anymore. read more

I tried their turkey sandwich which I really enjoyed! My family tried different plates like the Mac and cheese, burgers and chicken tenders which they said wasn't so great and burgers lacked flavor. Server was very kind and had helpful recommendations when asked . read more

I brought a big happy hour group to Sets and I absolutely love this place. They have great food and a great happy hour with an awesome vibe. Alexus handled our group with ease and might be one of the best servers I have ever met. read more

Food and service were outstanding. The patio was warm and comfortable. We'd follow Chef Willy to the moon. Glad we tried it. We'll definitely be back. read more

I met some friends last night at this place for dinner and drinks. Their drinks were really tasty and the appetizers and dinner was really fresh and great. You got to try hokey pokey bowl. read more