Great local restaurant with quality food and tasty drinks. Cute atmosphere and friendly wait staff.

My girlfriend suggested this place for Sunday Brunch so she made a reservation at 10 am and we were here, happy and ready to eat. There were so many good things on the menu, I didn't know what to order, whether to get breakfast or lunch, or brunch, so I went with my urge to get poutine. Food: -Husband got the breakfast sandwich -Melissa got the eggs benedict -I got the poutine -Kids shared the french toast -We all shared the black seed truffle popcorn (delicious! and yes, I'm a cool mom to let my kids eat popcorn at 10 am) It's a pretty cool place and I can see myself hanging out here for happy hour. The popcorn arrived and we devoured it in seconds, my kids couldn't get enough. Then our food came and we all got quiet because we were so busy stuffing our faces. My husband kept talking about coming back to try the deep fried brussel sprouts, I'm not a sprouts fan so to each their own. Service was great, but then again there weren't many people there early in the morning. Nonetheless, I plan to come back for happy hour, just for the popcorn alone! read more

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Been here a few times and came back the other day with a couple girlfriends for lunch. The service is not the best here. One server for the whole ;ace with the manager chilling in the back. Not a good receipe for happiness. The happy hour prices aren't really great. Only a couple dollars off some things. Their fries are awesome. 6$ for a basket of truffle fries. The salads are large but expensive when you add a protein to one. $20 for a salad. Nothing amazing and a bit pricey. Slow service and not the friendliest guy was our server. Will choose somewhere else to lunch and drink next time. read more

The Craftsman - Brussels - New American Near Me - Encinitas, California

Stopped here today for a late lunch, what a delicious treat. We were able to sit outside with our dogs and it was perfect. That staff was amazing! I highly recommend the Cuban sandwich! Delicious!! The Bloody Mary was tasty too! read more

Good vibes and southern comfort food! Have been here 3 times in the past month: 2 date nights with my husband and a Sunday brunch with my office staff (party of 6). The food and service are always on point and their 2 outdoor patio areas have been warm and cozy. For date night, we started with an order of their unique and delicious popcorn and an ice cold draft beer (I almost never drink, but couldn't resist their Alpine Duet). We also enjoyed the smokey and spicy bacon- wrapped jalapeño poppers, and I've enjoyed the beet salad and the shrimp and grits appetizer (which is big enough for an entree). Everyone loved their brunch selections, from the American burger to the Cuban sandwich to the chicken fried chicken (which comes on a large biscuit with country gravy and 2 eggs). Staff enjoyed the $15 bottomless mimosas. read more

The Craftsman - Beet salad and chicken bacon ranch salad with chicken upgraded to fried chicken by special request. Alpine Duet draft. - New American Near Me - Encinitas, California

Service was great and food came out really fast. All staff wears masks, they sanitizer between customers, and the owner is really hands on and is really great with all customers. The Brussel sprout appetizer was amazingly really good, the grandmas deviled eggs and the buttermilk chicken was a little bland. We had to add some salt to it to make it more flavorful. The meatloaf was extremely delicious, I would definitely recommend that entree. It was a really great experience and the overall ambiance was beautiful. It's a bit pricey and not that many options, so I suggest you look at the menu online before arriving to see if you really want something here. read more

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I Almost never post reviews and this is the First time ever posting a negative review. Pros - the staff is GREAT. Friendly and enthusiastic without being fake. Cons - the food is the problem, and remarkably expensive. I got the steak frites and the meat was very disappointing. The sweet potato tater tots are obviously just frozen and not worth getting. The one exception was the Brussels sprouts appetizer, which was outstanding. read more

we ordered to glasses of champagne. They were $18 each and they tasted like two dollar bottles of champagne. I don't mind paying for a decent glass of champagne, but that was really awful whatever brand that was very disappointed in the champagne. read more

Great happy hour! I had the passionfruit martini, it was beautiful with just the right amount of sweetness. I had the lobster bisque with plenty of lobster and also a flatbread. Flatbread was amazing and had the salted caramel pudding! My friend had the bbq sliders but she thought it needed a little more bbq. Overall it was delicious! It was pretty packed even though we went on a Wednesday. Our waitress was great also (can't remember her name). read more

The Craftsman - New American Near Me - Encinitas, California

Yummy food and great service! Shane is amazing!! Love the atmosphere and people that work there read more

New owners? New chef? What is going on? We are semi-regulars, tend to order the same items when we go in every month or so. First they replaced the best goat cheese chili rellano a few years back but we adjusted to a new chicken & cheese one with a great chipotle mayo but somewhere around three months ago, though still stating it has chicken, that chicken disappeared as well. Not one piece has been found and not even sure if it's cheese inside (tastes like flour paste). It is deep fried to perfection, though. The once wonderful ahi poke now suffers from greasy taro chips which were so amazing and creative. So sad our two fav dishes are a mess & the fig flatbread is gone! Yikes! It was only the food that kept us returning cuz the decor is dreary & dark, but the staff is cheery. read more

Hidden Gem. Great brunch. Great service that is friendly. Being a Texan, we love flavor and value....the food was out of this world. Some of the dishes also had the Tex-Mex flavor and spice. Each item was reasonably priced. We are coming back for Sunday Brunch! read more

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Came in for lunch at 1:05 p.m. sat for 5 minutes before somebody took my drink order then sat for 15 minutes before walking out. I looked around me and most of the tables had people not eating. What was especially insulting was the $16.00 price for a burger. So I understand; you want me to pay that much for a burger, seven dollars for a beer so I am at thirty bucks for a meal for one person? Then you better be offering five star service. This place did not. It's the typical grumpy Hispanics serving and waiting that most restaurants have. Dead eyed help is not a plus, and if you are having issues functioning at lunch it would be smart to advise people that there is a massive wait before you set them. But, sixteen dollars for a burger? You are out of your mind. I'm giving two stars only because I left without eating. I did not have time for that, but I feel totally insulted. Best of luck. read more

The Craftsman - New American Near Me - Encinitas, California

Great food, great drinks, great service, love the ambiance! Perfect local spot to enjoy with friends or family.

I love this place! The burgers are so good. They built a really cute outdoor fenced in patio. Ambience is awesome. Service was great! Drinks are good. Love it. If I had a wish, it would be to have a second stomach so I could've eaten the rest of my burger and truffle fries... read more

Had our first meal here and it was delicious. I had the salmon with wasabi mashed potatoes and it was perfection. The salmon was drier than I expected, but intentional with the crusted sesame seeds - and I ate it all. My husband had the meatloaf and it was incredible. My son has a burger he said was very good, and he upgraded to the sweet potato tots, which were delicious. My daughter had just cheese pizza and it was the only thing I didn't love. We also had bread pudding and butterscotch pudding and preferred the bread pudding. I have had other butterscotch pies and puddings and I prefer it to be sweeter. But they are famous for it, so give it a try read more

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Great burgers - perfectly done. Crispy wonderful fries. Friendly service. We'll be back!

For Michael.....Karen and I had the pleasure of dining in your restaurant about a month ago and were pleasantly surprised at the quality and presentation of the food...Short Ribs and Salmon.....amazing!! Since then we have visited 2 other times and were completely underwhelmed....very sad as were so excited the first time. The second time we ordered the Burger and Cobb Salad. How difficult is it to make a great burger....check out Black Rail or Cucina Enoteca...will help you. The Cobb Salad was extremely plain with no color or flavor...ordinary. Tonight we came back to give it another try looking forward to the Short Ribs again.....off the menu. We asked our server about the Meat Loaf and he said it was amazing.......NOT!!! Extremely tough and overbaked....we are used to our own recipe which is fluffy and moist.....happy to share it with the Chef. After spending $85.00+ for the meal tonight we will probably not return.....very disappointed as we thought we had found our new favorite place. Good Luck read more

I've been coming here for years. I usually come for HH and sit at the bar. Shane is the best bartender and the service is usually impeccable. Today k took my dog for a walk and decided to stop for brunch. The server was in a hurry as his shift was ending . I ordered the bottomless mimosa, eggs and bacon for my dog and something for me. Another server brought the food and forgot the bacon. So I asked for is. Originally I ordered the two egg breakfast with bacon. The server charged me separately for each item. I was for gotten when I needed refills for my bottomless mimosa. Before I finished my breakfast I was given the check because he was leaving. I sat for 20 minutes and finally asked for a refill of my mimosa. The service was soooo bad. read more

Trust those who Yelp regularly... Ugh! Quality of service and quality of food have both dropped. My $16.50 Encinitas flatbread had 8 very small slices with topping very poorly disbursed across the pie. Busser filled one water glass instead of all four. Waitress just couldn't pull it together, was rarely seen, and not friendly at all. Bartender, on the other hand was great and cocktail was good (1/19 @ 6:00p) Meh... Other good options around read more

So yummy, Brussels . Yum bugger yum, french fries crispy . Burger yummy. Get there early. Played the grateful dead .. win win.

Good atmosphere, it's a bit over-priced. Don't make the mistake of ordering the Scottish egg if your sharing one app. as it is $10 for 1 egg. While good it price is unreasonable. The service is typically slower than expected as the staff is usually visiting with one another at the bar. read more

The Craftsman - $10 Scottish Egg - New American Near Me - Encinitas, California

This is a local spot that I always want to like a lot. Sadly, I have a "checkered past" with the Craftsman. My last visit however, it was really, really good. I had one of the best beet salads I've ever had and my husband had a fantastic fish and chips. Cocktails are good and the wine list is excellent! Today's lunch was sub-par, however. I had the Tijuana Caesar salad which had practically no taste, despite sounding really interesting on the menu. Beware! I appreciated the freshly cooked chicken on top, but I really needed some hot sauce or lemons or anything to give it some taste!!! Although I haven't liked the service before, the last two times we've been there, the service seemed a lot better. I'll go back, but next time I'll choose the beet salad and hope it lives up to my rave review! read more

Food was ok, but timing was a bit off today. Asked for booth but was told it was reserved for a party of 6 (no such party showed up). Appetizers came out quickly but so did main course, literally no room to put them. Server took them away to keep warm when asked. Chilli Relleno and salad that came with was the best dish we ordered, other were meh this time. We will try again though. read more

Burgers are on point. I've had them all and couldn't possibly pick a favorite! The popcorn is a great munch while you wait.

We were excited to see the outdoor patio and the tables nicely distanced from each other. Had a nice dinner, the Seabass was good. The spicy gimlet was awesome, though not very spicy. Doing all good things EXCEPT the waitress was maskless, leaned over us, talking a lot and too long and close enough for me to smell her last cigarette. The manager running food was maskless, too. We felt like we might as well have sat inside and been uncomfortably close to others and Covid. Such a bummer. read more

Thank you for a scrumptious brunch! Especially while you were going through a kitchen disaster during the service. We were wondering why this quaint place wasn't hopping for brunch service on a Sunday afternoon. Turns out, they had a pipe burst! And, had only opened 15 minutes before we got there at 11:45. Upon coming in, we had no idea anything had gone awry. The hostess was very friendly and brought us to the sweetest corner with cushioned bench seating for our party of 3. We were brought drinking water right away. However, it was over 10 minutes before we were greeted by our server. And, another few minutes before she even took our drink order. So, we ordered an appetizer with our coffee. Now, the food and the portion left nothing to be desired in my opinion. They are very generous with their servings! The Brussels sprouts are hands down the most delicious I've had! Fried crispy with capers and bacon. Then dressed lightly with some apple cider vinegar to cut through the fat of the oil. Really well executed! The burgers were cooked as ordered. Perfectly medium rare. The meat was fresh and flavorful without being over seasoned. Let the quality of meat speak for itself. And, finally the chilaquiles were yummy too. The mole sauce was really good! A well balanced plate with the pickled onions and cotija cheese to compliment the carnitas. Save room for dessert! Because the butterscotch pudding....over the top! The perfect way to end a really wonderful meal! We'll be back! Oh, they informed us they were indeed closing to the public when they served us dessert. Glad we got in when we did! Hope their plumbing issues are resolved soon! read more

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We eat at the Craftsman regularly and always enjoy the experience. The buttermilk fried chicken and the American burger are among our favorites. We love the staff and cozy atmosphere read more

During the heart of the pandemic, my wife and I had a fantastic night out at the Craftsman. As a result, I suggested The Craftsman for my mother's birthday celebration tonight. Unfortunately, we had a much different experience. The stuffed chicken breast and the fish were overcooked and too salty. The service was lackluster at best. Throughout the meal, we had dirty plates cluttering the table and nothing was quick. To add insult to injury, the prices were very high with entrees near $30. Too bad! At least the butterscotch pudding was amazing. read more

I still love coming here after so many years. The menu gets a few changes every season but the favorites and classics are always there to enjoy. It's nice when I come with friends and we can share a bunch of the apps and small plates!!! I love the pork belly satay, the truffle popcorn (hard to stop eating it) the poke, the Tijuana Caesar is super yummy.... you can't go wrong with the pretzel bread and cheese dip. Ohhhhhhhh and the peanut butter bacon bombs are the bomb!!! I do like the flat breads and other items too but eat the apps more than anything!!! Mike the GM is awesome and so is the rest of the staff!!! read more

Great food, great service. This place has quality food in a very nice, yet chill atmosphere. On my last visit we had deviled eggs, Brussel sprouts and Sea bass and it was all spectacular. Grabbed some of the popcorn to go... I love that stuff! This place is great. read more

We have never had dinner here. We have always come here for either apps or dessert. Drinks are good and plenty of snacks to choose from. read more

Service is outstanding. ive been here a few times now and they are always so nice. Drinks are well poured and yummy. Food is good a bit pricey ($20 burger) . We ate a little later (8ish) and you could tell the food was a little under presented. My cob salad had a very small, over cooked, dried up piece of chicken and it was inedible. I'll chalk that up to us being the last table served b4 the kitchen closed. Still gets 4 stars becomes the staff and cocktails were outstanding. read more

The morning after a couple of LONG nights we wandered over here & I think people are totally missing out on this place with their Sunday Brunch of $9 bottomless mimosas/bloody Mary's all because they want to go to the hipster place Breakfast Republic across the parking lot - 30 min wait over there for mediocre food from what I read in Yelp, NO thanks! The Craftsmen came in with the win on a easy, straightforward menu. I wanted a protein & carb packed meal so my bf and I both ordered the All American breakfast of 2 eggs, bacon, potatoes & 2 pieces of toast - like I said straightforward/easy but seriously SO good. Our waiter also filled our mimosas like 5 or 6 times each time right before we were almost finished with the previous. Never having an empty glass or having to wave down someone to get more is a HUGE plus. Definitely will be back when we're in town visiting next. read more

The Craftsman - All America breakfast & bottomless mimosas hit the spot! This Sunday Brunch is perfect. - New American Near Me - Encinitas, California

Awesome local Encinitas spot owned by some folks with a couple of other resturants and they know what they are doing! Food is on point and the staff is very good. Bartenders remember you if you stop in regularly, they have a good wine selection and pour very good drinks. Stop in to try the popcorn appetizer, it is awesome. I've been known to call in for a to-go order, it's that good! Nice patio area and they have room for small groups too. read more

The Craftsman Tavern Is Outstanding during these Covid times! We just returned from having an awesome dinner out at the Craftsman Tavern! They have nice socially distanced tables outside under the tent in the parking lot along with a few tables open on the patio. The menu is available through your smart phone via a QR code lamented on each table (great idea and 1st venue I have visited that utilizes - great safety feature and green - if you didn't know smart phone normal cameras automatically can be used as a QR reader now). The staff was outstanding. The food including the Heirloom Black Seed Popcorn as an appetizer was better then I remember pre-covid. If your looking for a nice dinner out and want to support a local venue, head on over to Craftsman Tavern. You will not be disappointed! read more

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I really cannot figure out why this place has bad reviews. I eat here fairly often and have never had a bad experience. The bloody marys, the wine, the HUGE cheese plate, the snacks, and even burgers are amazing! I crave this place so if you did have a bad experience give this place another shot, either someone had a bad day or that dish just wasn't to your liking. See ya guys soon! read more

Great dinner place, can't believe it's our first time here! I got the petite fish & chips - delicious, fries were amazing. My fiancé got the Prohibition burger with sweet potato tots and loved it, and my daughter got the mini cheeseburgers. Family friendly and has TVs with all the games on. Highly recommend! Thank you to our server Gio! read more

I am very disappointed in the service that we received yesterday afternoon. I have been a long-time customer of this establishment, since it was Savory restaurant. My friends and I came for a happy hour and spent quite a bit of money. When we had our waiter that needed to close out our bill because he was off shift we happily complied. After he closed out, instead of just closing out, we were never introduced to our new server and instead, she came and brashly told us we were done and had to leave. She didn't introduce herself as our new server. She stated that there were reservations for our table and we had 15 minutes remaining. Following that we talk to the manager on duty who we have had frequent correspondence with. We stated that we were looking to have another cocktail was there a place that we could. He said that we should but they weren't going to be able to accommodate us. The bar didn't look like there is any place for the four of us. So that left us with a couple options we could leave and try coming back another time or we can disregard this place as our local happy hour spot. I think we are following the latter of the two. This is the first time we've had poor service. I called the restaurant after leaving and before posting this review hoping for a solution. The manager Mike agreed that it was a tough situation but wasn't able to come to a solution. He ended with he hoped that he could keep our business. I recall an incident back in December where we were on the other end and had a reservation. During another visit we had arrange to have a certain section closed off so we could have a happy hour. Several weeks went by and when it was the event, I went into check. The same manager forgot that we had already scheduled this reservation and said that there was another reservation in our place. We had to quickly meet and end our evening event a lot sooner than we were planning. read more

I wish this place was open for lunch during the week. The menu selections are interesting and the food always amazing. Happy hour cocktails at THE BEST and they also have a pretty good wine selection. read more