The Cooler

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4 years ago

Seems like an open mic night tonight amongst locals, and have to say they're all wonderful to listen to! Having a small bar like this back in Jersey, they're much more friendly here. They all seem like people anybody would wanna know. Bartender (wish I had caught his name but night of 1/6/23) was so sweet and so welcoming. Keep it going, Cooler... you're cool with me. (I know bad pun) read more

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Vanessa L.

158

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5 years ago

Cute little beer hall with a nice patio! Went in the morning at opening for a quick stop w a friend. Got the hard cider and loved the fruity-ness of it. Friend got a honey blonde ale and it was so easy to drink read more

The Cooler - Hard cider and a honey blonde ale (forgot which one) - Beer Gardens Near Me - Julian, California

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Alexandra H.

194

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2

4 years ago

Drinks: We got a flight, everything we had was pretty good. The mead was very tasty. The people & manager: The manager was having a conversation about hating tourists with some locals. They went on for a while about how terrible it is having them visit at all, talking about them not knowing how to drive in snow, etc. It was uncomfortable sitting there and have them discuss how much they hate us. We finished our flight and left. If you don't like tourists, cool, I get that, but it's not the best practice to say you hate them and then continue to talk about them for a large chunk of time. Tourists probably give them a good amount of business, but I don't think we will be back after hearing them talk like that. There is a time and place and I think it's better to only talk like that when people you know are locals are present. read more

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John R.

0

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3 years ago

This place rocks! Very chill and a great variety of beer and ciders! I like the outdoor seating and the locals are friendly. They laughed at my jokes! read more

The Cooler - the menu - Beer Gardens Near Me - Julian, California

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Imee P.

50

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23

5 years ago

Our first time here, definitely not our last! Thank you to the friendly staff for being informative and helpful. Beautiful location and patio to enjoy drinks. Cheers! read more

The Cooler - beer flight, julian apple ciders - Beer Gardens Near Me - Julian, California

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Tricia G.

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4 years ago

Christine is welcoming and gives you the local vibes you want while visiting Julian. Great beer and such a chill atmosphere. Add Cooler to your list of todos in Julian, you won't regret it! read more

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Marty B.

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3 years ago

Hands down best place to grab a beer and a game of pool while up in the mountains! Also... beer anyone???

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AL S.

Elite 23

237

689

252

4 years ago

I love stopping by here on the way home from Julian. Great selection of beers, they even have mead! Great music is always playing, cold ones are flowing and they have a nice little patio with fire pits. 100% recommend stopping in for a cold beer and a nice relaxing afternoon! read more

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Jorge M.

14

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4 years ago

Amazing server here! The ambiance is the best. Beer selection excellent! The merch is a must! Thank you to @Christine for taking care of us with the pours! Will be back very soon! read more

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Farrah F.

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3 years ago

The bartender, Christy, is very friendly and knowledgeable about the taps! Welcoming atmosphere and live music on Saturday and Sunday

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S L.

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3 years ago

Such a fun hidden gem! Nicest people, great local beer, fun atmosphere, what more could you ask for? A must stop on the way to or from Julian. read more

The Cooler - Beer flights! Many options, knowledgeable staff, good selection - Beer Gardens Near Me - Julian, California

The Cooler - So many games! Plus a pool table and arcade games. Fun for a group! - Beer Gardens Near Me - Julian, California

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Lisa W.

Elite 26 All-Star

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9 years ago

I was disappointed as it was a hot day but when I entered into the cooler it wasn't "cool". I was imagining an ice box... instead it was still warm and the inside is like any bar in Julian, hot. There were a ton of bar games, and it was free. We like! Big patio space with plenty of seatings. The bartender was nice. We like him, we felt he really did care if you got a good beer. A lot of their beers were from BNS brewery. My bf had the IPA and it was good. He enjoyed it. I got the hard kombucha (Boochcraft) my favorite and was satisfied. read more

The Cooler - Bar games - Beer Gardens Near Me - Julian, California

The Cooler - Boochcraft - Beer Gardens Near Me - Julian, California

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Archie M.

1

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3 years ago

Very nice ambiance, a kind bartender named Talia helped us today, I got the Nickel apple pie ale; super good I wasn't sure if to eat or drink it! lol loved it!! Highly recommend stopping by here they've got great service as well read more

The Cooler - Nickel apple pie ale - Beer Gardens Near Me - Julian, California

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Kaitlin V.

21

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4 years ago

Perfect place to stop as we were leaving Julian! Loved trying local Julian/San Diego beers. I also love any place with games. They had this great selection of board games, along with pool and live music/karaoke at night read more

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Samir B.

458

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7

4 years ago

Great spot. Christine is an amazing bartender. Tons of choices. Pool table. Music. Plenty of games and seating. Highly recommend!!! read more

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Chelsey H.

2

42

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5 years ago

So much fun! We stayed in Wynola over July 4th weekend, and this place was our go-to spot. The staff/bartenders are wonderful. We lucked out and stumbled upon open mic night on Friday, which was full of talent. Saturday and Sunday they had live music from 1-4. The crowd was diverse, for a small town, making for a fun scene of people just wanting to hang and hear music. The post-Covid relief of being able to resume life was almost palpable. Bonus: there are misters for when it's hot and lots of dogs to pet! read more

The Cooler - Woman singing on the patio at open mic night - Beer Gardens Near Me - Julian, California

The Cooler - Patio area with chairs and fire pit - Beer Gardens Near Me - Julian, California

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Laura Y.

191

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3 years ago

I have had amazing time I'm here especially due to Michelle and her adorable pup Magnolia! I will keep coming back to the Cooler for the ambiance and feeling ! read more

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Nicole D.

4

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5 years ago

ABSOLUTELY A MUST VISIT! Great atmosphere & awesome selection of beers. For sure try the mead....yum! read more

The Cooler - Golden Coast Mead - Beer Gardens Near Me - Julian, California

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Emelia G.

248

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3 years ago

Just like always, we had a blast at the Cooler. Our bartender, Talia was super sweet and bubbly. We love coming to the Cooler at the end of our beautiful visits from Julian! Thanks Talia! read more

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Sarah S.

0

1

3 years ago

The bartender was super nice and helpful! The bar is also very clean and the cider was amazingly good! read more

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Nicholas M.

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36

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3 years ago

Cold beers on warm days. Sweet old school spot love the building history. Be sure to check out the hanger next door with more food and curiosity items for sale. read more

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Nick T.

48

19

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5 years ago

Great little beer hall off the HWY to Julian. Enjoyed their rotating tap and bottled list. Drinking area is mostly outside even pre-Covid tines. Friendly atmosphere that gets even friendlier with each passing pint or taster. Flights available! Sadly no food but there is a burger bar next door you can bring and eat. read more

The Cooler - Beer list - Beer Gardens Near Me - Julian, California

The Cooler - Beer - Beer Gardens Near Me - Julian, California

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Christine T.

93

182

1014

8 years ago

A group of us spent the afternoon in Julian on Saturday, and ended our activities at The Cooler. There were only two (2!) beers on tap. Three, if you count the hard kombucha. There were three different canned/bottled beers in the cooler - BNS Gatling Gun Imperial Stout, Stone IPA, and Modelo. I got the BNS Gatling Gun, which was quite tasty. There is a pool table, sand shuffleboard table, and foosball table. The tables are free to play, which is awesome! There was no restroom, just a port a potty, which was less than awesome, especially late at night with no lighting behind the building :( The bartender never told us what time The Cooler closed, but proceeded to gradually turn off the lights and start shutting down the bar while we were in there, around 8:30-9:00pm maybe... oops, maybe we didn't pay attention to the hours. After we left, we checked the hours listed on Yelp, which stated that The Cooler closes at 10pm on Satuday's... hmmmmm. I'm not really sure if The Cooler can be categorized as a "beer garden," due to their small selection of beer when we were there. Perhaps I have been spoiled by the bars and beer selection in North Park. That being said, I don't think I'll be back to The Cooler. read more

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Alicia F.

48

23

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5 years ago

What can I say! Definitely worth your while. Great selection of drafts. Super friendly environment. read more

The Cooler - Beer Space - Beer Gardens Near Me - Julian, California

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Matthew R.

3

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25

3 years ago

Warm and excellent environment! If you are in the area please stop by !! Friendly staff ! read more

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Nancy D.

805

387

6985

11 years ago

We were speeding by and u turned into a large parking lot after spotting a giant Coleman cooler. For those of us that grew up with the old aluminum coolers this place is a blast from the past. We walked in and Pink Floyd was playing in the background. Stuart has a great idea and has created a fun environment. We met so many friendly locals that gave us great tips on places to try. It had been a long day so I was nursing a cider but they did have a nice assortment of beer on tap and in bottles. There's also outside seating for the little ones & the furry ones too. Can't wait to come back and see what's new. read more

The Cooler - Used to be an apple cooler - Beer Gardens Near Me - Julian, California

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Abby W.

2478

1678

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8 years ago

What's not to love about a small town bar? My boyfriend and I arrived in Julian about 15 minutes before our friends so we decided to stop into this bar for a drink while we waited. If it weren't for the sign promising beer in the window, I'm not sure we would have even known it was a bar. My friend said she didn't notice it on her way into the neighboring collection of shops. While my boyfriend tried one of their IPAs, we enjoyed a nice chat with the bartender. We were the only ones in the bar around midday on Saturday and it seems that the lack of people may be attributed to a chilly, overcast spring day that kept most of the San Diego tourists at home. At least, I hope that's it because I always root for local places to succeed! read more

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James F.

34

52

32

6 years ago

So glad this place is here. Julian was shoulder to shoulder today and traffic backed up to the edge of town, so it's nice to have somewhere with a chill vibe (and parking lol). Really diverse beer selection, I LOVE that they have more than just 10 kinds of IPA's. Mead, Porter, all kinds of good stuff. Staff has a chill vibe and this whole business clearly doesn't take itself too seriously, so it's basically the perfect tasting room. read more

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Michael V.

0

3

2

4 years ago

The Cooler is easily one of the best spots to grab a drink when you come to Julian! Super laid back and a great place to bring family and friends.Ask for Christine she is super knowledgeable about all the drinks read more

The Cooler - The Cooler is easily one of the best spots to grab a drink when you come to Julian! Ask for Christine! - Beer Gardens Near Me - Julian, California

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Anna K.

15

30

9

4 years ago

Best vibes ever. Christine was great at helping us select great beers to try and recommend other tasting rooms to try. We're just visiting for the weekend but we will definitely be back again before we head home! read more

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Mikey S.

0

5

3

3 years ago

The drink selection was absolutely amazing, not to mention their bartender vivi helped me through all my choices and always made sure my glass was full. Never had better service than I've had here. Love the small town vibes and amazing hospitality from vivi. 10/10 will recommend to all of my friends and family. Can't wait to come back! read more

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Lollie M.

0

14

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4 years ago

The Cooler is a great place to hang out! They have craft beer, hard cider a pool table, and lots of games to entertain you. It 's also a place for local musicians to jam, and all around, just a good vibe kind of place. You should definitely stop by the Cooler! read more

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Lance F.

303

1

0

4 years ago

Love the atmosphere and the brew. Gotta get the mead mixed with Julian hard cider black and blue

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Simrit J.

0

1

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3 years ago

A very sweet hidden gem that has the best energy. Talia was a true angel in giving us some local info and gave us the best recommendations. 10/10 will be coming back read more

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More info about The Cooler

4466 Hwy 78
Julian, CA 92036
Directions
(619) 335-6426
Call Now

Hours

What time does The Cooler open?

The Cooler opens at 11:00 AM on Thursday, Sunday, Friday and Saturday.

What time does The Cooler close?

The Cooler is closed on Monday, Tuesday and Wednesday.The Cooler closes at 6:00 PM on Thursday and Sunday.The Cooler closes at 7:00 PM on Friday.The Cooler closes at 8:00 PM on Saturday.

Mon-Wed ClosedThu, Sun 11:00 AM - 6:00 PMFri 11:00 AM - 7:00 PMSat 11:00 AM - 8:00 PM

Payment methods

Does The Cooler take credit cards?

Yes, The Cooler takes credit cards.

Food & Alcohol

Does The Cooler have a happy hour?

Yes, The Cooler has a happy hour.

Does The Cooler serve alcohol?

Yes, The Cooler serves alcohol. Beer & Wine Only

Indoor Amenities

Does The Cooler have TVs?

Yes, The Cooler has TVs.

Outdoor Amenities

Does The Cooler have bike parking?

Yes, The Cooler has bike parking.

Does The Cooler have outdoor seating?

Yes, The Cooler has outdoor seating options.

Does The Cooler have parking?

Yes, The Cooler has parking options. Private Lot Parking

Other Amenities

Is The Cooler wheelchair accessible?

Yes, The Cooler is wheelchair accessible.

Does The Cooler allow outdoor smoking?

Yes, The Cooler allows outdoor smoking.

Does The Cooler have free WiFi?

No, The Cooler does not have free WiFi.

From the Business

Specialties

We are a beer taproom located in the historic Julian Station.

The Cooler Reviews in Other Languages

Portuguese
1 Review

Review Highlights - The Cooler

“Christine was great at helping us select great beers to try and recommend other tasting rooms to try.”

Mentioned in 10 reviews

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Great place to visit and enjoy an ice cold beer as you continue your road trip. So worth the trip…read moreand awesome staff and people to meet.we got there about 3pm and the weather was perfect. Nice cool breeze as you enjoy your drinks and just relax.

Second time here. Great ride there. Very unusual place for a rest stop…read more They have beer and soft drinks. Very clean place and the person inside is very friendly. They also have a taco place right outside and I must say they are very good.

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I love pizza, but this was my first time trying this style and it did not disappoint! The BBQ meat…read moreoverload pizza is seriously a bomb. It's packed with flavor, loaded with toppings, and perfectly cooked with a nice crispy crust. The combination of smoky, savory, and slightly sweet BBQ flavors just works so well. Every bite was satisfying and definitely something different from your usual pizza. Great spot to grab a bite while in Julian good vibes, solid food, and a must-try in julian trip!

Let me just start by saying The food is so great! I had the Mac and cheese with the pork belly it…read morejust melts in your mouth the sauce is so good that they paired with the pork belly goes perfect! Service is great as well we were confused before when we first visited but Julian is a small town so some places close pretty early if you wanna try this place do not wait for it to close! Go ahead and try it out before closing! The inside kinda reminded us of game of thrones or Harry Potter with the tables set up in a very awesome way! I have to recommend this place specially if you're in Julian area

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4.3(195 reviews)

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This is a great, no-frills brewery. They had a nice variety of beers. Plenty of outdoor seating…read more The parking lot looked a little small, but street parking is adjacent. The bartender was friendly enough. They don't sell food, but other reviews have mentioned food trucks. Honestly, if I only want beer, I much prefer this place to Julian Beer Co.

Beautifully aromatic, deliciously, refreshing, and smoothly satisfying, locally brewed beers…read more Everything served here is excellent and served with a great attitude and positive vibes. Kat and Ray are amazing and attentive people you will meet here.

Tasters on the patio

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The doorman and bodyguard were so kind and nice, and everyone there was just... so polite…read more I am definitely coming back because of how cool people work there and I'm going to bring friends and family with me! (I was there today and the music wasn't cup of my tea so I left but,... the people - made me write this review, such great human beings.)

Super fun atmosphere. They make the drinks strong and are super friendly. The band patch of gravity…read morewas so much fun. I hope they come back soon.

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This biergarten is awesome. As soon as you walk in, there's a food truck immediately to your left…read moreserving wood-fired pizzas that are absolutely phenomenal. They also offer a great happy hour special Tuesday through Friday with $5 off pizzas. I don't remember the exact hours, so you'll want to check those before visiting. One of the things I love most about this place is the variety. There are three different brewery stations throughout the venue. I got a flight from the back room, where they serve mead, which is tough to find around San Diego. I ordered a flight, which came with six selections, and every single one was excellent. The staff here are fantastic. Everyone was friendly and welcoming, and one of the chefs even came out to give the pups some pepperoni, which was a nice touch that definitely stood out. The space itself is huge with plenty of both indoor and outdoor seating. It's a great place for groups to gather, relax, and enjoy a few drinks without feeling cramped. Overall, this is a fun and unique spot with great food, excellent drinks, and outstanding service. I'm definitely looking forward to coming back.

This is a great space! Love meeting friends here - locals and tourists are always pleasantly…read moresurprised by this literal 'hidden' gem tucked in the middle of an industrial area (parking may take a bit to find). The main food available is from Pizza Cassette, which has delicious sandwiches and wood-fired, Neapolitan-style pizza pies. Drinks are available from a brewery, a trendy and unique wine spot, and a meadery! Truly something for everyone. It's dog friendly and great for groups to still feel intimate with standing areas, barrel table tops and picnic style tables. There's usually always something happening like trivia night or live music, but heads up, they don't stay open too late - won't be an issue for most, but in case you're looking for a spot at 8pm, double check the hours, especially for food.

VIP flight from Lost Cause Meadery

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Bare Knuckle Brewing

4.7(56 reviews)

37.0 mi

I had a bookclub meet up here and didn't even realize it was here before then. The brewery is a…read moregood size but there's a huge patio with a bunch of seating also. There was about 30 of us that came in on a Sunday. This was a pretty busy spot with families, kids sports teams, pups, everyone was here. Somehow we managed to get 3 bench tables for our big group. I was deciding between a few drink options but decided on the guava cider, pretty delightful. I also got some carne asada nachos. The nachos were huge, not spicy, but good flavor. I'll definitely have to come back and check out the other drinks and a smash burger or pretzel.

Father's Day Three people working bar and orders. You order…read moreat counter. Twenty minutes standing in line. They are out of hot dogs which is a large part of their menu. Every menu item came out separate. C02 problems so half the kegs not working. Shitshow! I thought this seemed like a cool place. The issues they are having are like first month open type of things. Sad. Music was great!

Hands Wraps IPA

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Good afternoon spent at Reds, White and Brew in Ramona. Hot day and stepped in to cold local beers…read moreon tap. You know it's a solid place with PBR in cans is served. Super shout out to Anna! Very down to earth, funny, and all round good person behind the bar. NO KITCHEN, NO BAR MENU HERE. Food trucks on scheduled days and the Ramona cafe is across the street...good patty melt if you ask me.

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If I could give 20 stars, I would! The Bier Garden in Encinitas has never disappointed me. Every…read moredish I've tried has been amazing. The cornbread is hands-down the best and a must-order every single visit! So far I've had the Poke N Chips, BG Bones, and grilled cheese with tomato soup, and every single item has been flavorful, fresh, and perfectly prepared. It's rare to find a place where everything on the menu is consistently this good. The atmosphere is always great, the food is outstanding, and it's become one of my favorite spots in Encinitas. Whether you're stopping by for drinks, lunch, or dinner, you really can't go wrong. Highly recommend I'll definitely be back for more cornbread!

My mother and I came here for lunch on a Tuesday in June. We both received burgers, she asked for…read moreonion rings instead of fries and I asked for a Caesar salad instead of fries. My burger had very little flavor. The meat was dry, it was still edible just wouldn't order it again. The Caesar salad was fantastic!!!! The lettuce was amazing and the dressing was absolutely delicious. My mother ordered the fig burger with a side of onion rings and instead she got fries and there was no goat cheese on the burger. However she still loved the burger. Also all the pictures online show that they have WAFFLE FRIES - THEY DO NOT. The service was good and they were helpful in fixing the issues with the onion rings. Ambiance is very loud being right on the 101 but it's not terrible.

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Stopped in at El Lugar de Nos and I'm still thinking about the food. I ordered the Tacos 84 (the…read moremeat is cooked for 84 hours!) and they were out-of-this-world good. Also tried the quinoa salad and a beet plate from the specials menu. Both were insanely delicious, with portions so big I couldn't even finish. The vibe inside is adorable. It's kind of shabby chic farmhouse, cozy but stylish. I had a spicy mezcal margarita that was smoky, refreshing, and came with a frozen watermelon garnish that was such a fun touch. Service was super friendly and attentive the whole time. Definitely recommend making a reservation since it gets busy. I'll absolutely be going back.